Speeding motorists face Kids’ Court
School children from Montgomery Primary Academy in Sparkbrook have been taking speeding drivers to task after they were caught exceeding a 20mph speed limit outside their school.
As 20mph limits come into effect across large parts of Birmingham this week, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police have been working together to reinforce the key message that ‘slower is safer’.
As part of this, drivers breaking the speed limit outside the school today (October 11) were pulled over by the police and given the opportunity to face a panel of school children at a Kids’ Court, or face points on their licence and a £100 fine.
A total of 22 drivers were caught in the space of three hours this morning, of which 18 were put before the Kids’ Court, with the remaining four being prosecuted due to the speed at which they were driving.
, cabinet member for transport and roads at Birmingham City Council, said: “Some people might think that facing a panel of school children to avoid points on your licence is the easy option, but let me assure them that it is not. The children at today’s Kids’ Court did not hold back on their questions, ensuring that every driver brought before them was made to account for their actions.
“This isn’t about trying to catch people out – it’s about educating people and encouraging them to think about their behaviour on our roads and, if they have not already done so, to change it for the benefit of all. We know that the difference between 20mph and 30mph is not only significant in terms of whether a child survives, but also makes a huge difference on the severity of their injuries.
“The message is clear: slower is safer. I hope that every motorist who took part in today’s exercise will now go away and spread this message among their family and friends.”
Chief Inspector Jared White, of West Midlands Police, said: “The impact of having to face young children is far greater than being given a warning by a police officer or receiving a fine and three points. This initiative highlights the dangers and raises the awareness of speeding outside schools not only for motorists, but for the children as well.”
The 20mph speed limits, which came into effect on Monday (October 10), apply on residential roads in all or parts of Aston, Bordesley Green, Brandwood, Hodge Hill, Ladywood, Moseley and Kings Heath, Nechells, South Yardley, Sparkbrook, Springfield and Washwood Heath.
Further details of the 20mph limits can be found here.
Birmingham City Council’s road safety team will be out and about around the city, including in schools, over the coming weeks to raise awareness of the 20mph limits and promote the ‘slower is safer’ message.
The council has just finished consulting on implementing 20mph limits in the Central South West Birmingham area, covering all or parts of Edgbaston, Harborne, Selly Oak and Bournville, and will now consider the feedback received.
-ENDS-
