AQW 7076/09

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 20/04/2009
Answered On Date: 29/04/2009
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development if he would consider introducing 20 mph speed limits outside all schools.

Answer:

As the Member is already aware two schools were selected for trials of 20mph variable speed limits. These were:

Kilmoyle Primary School, Benvardin Road, Ballymoney; and

Hazlett Primary School, Downhilll Road, Articlave, Castlerock.

The schemes became operative on Monday 1 September 2008, and my Department’s Roads Service will continue to monitor and assess these schemes over the full school year, to determine their effectiveness in reducing traffic speeds and other dangers. After this period, consideration will be given to introducing a more widespread programme.

However, I should explain that the part-time 20mph pilot schemes are expensive to install and maintain. It would therefore be inappropriate to roll out further schemes until the costs and benefits have been properly established and compared with those of other measures, that Roads Service is already using, to address sites with known safety problems.

It should be noted that Roads Service has already invested considerable efforts by installing engineering measures, including prominent signing and road markings, to warn approaching drivers about the presence of vulnerable road users, such as children, around schools. In relation to this issue, Roads Service will continue to seek ways to reduce the dangers to children on their journey to and from schools.