No point in taking a risk

A NY parent knows only too well just how difficult it can be to get their children to school on time. It is certainly understandable why so many choose to drive their youngsters to the gates every day. Lots of pupils live a fair distance from their school and many parents have to rush from the drop-off to their place of work. For years now the 'school run', as it is known, has become a daily lottery of beeping horns, battles for parking spaces and near-misses. Today's story about the victory for families who have been campaigning for a 20mph zone outside St Luke's Primary, in Silverdale, is a timely reminder that not all schools benefit from road humps or speed restrictions which protect pedestrians. Of course, every street and road should be considered on its own merits and the views of families living in the area taken into consideration when speed limits are adjusted. But, as we are all taught, the difference in terms of injuries and fatalities suffered by people in collision with a vehicle varies wildly depending on the speed at which it is travelling. For example, the risk of death is approximately four times higher when a pedestrian is hit at 40mph as opposed to 30mph.

T hat said, it would be foolish to think speed is the only factor which affects the number of accidents which occur around our schools. Inconsiderate parking on double-yellow lines or bumping your car up on the pavement can be just as dangerous as breaking the speed limit. As can making telephone calls, texting, eating and trying to referee noisy children while in control of a vehicle. No matter how time-pressed we are, with large numbers of children milling about, it is common sense that we all take even greater care when driving near to schools. For the sake of a few minutes, it's just not worth the risk to life and limb.