School Children Urge Drivers To Slow Down

Speeding drivers in Wexham Street, Stoke Poges have been warned to slow down in a speed awareness afternoon involving school children from the Stoke Poges School. The event was arranged by the Neighbourhood Action Group, Thames Valley Police and South Bucks District Council to coincide with the Home Office initiative ‘Not in My Neighbourhood’ week.

During the event, drivers who were exceeding the speed limit were stopped by Roads Policing Officers and spoken to by a Road Safety Officer from Transport for Buckinghamshire and the local neighbourhood officers. If the drivers agreed they were then spoken to by pupils from the Stoke Poges School who reminded them that the speed limit in urban areas is 30mph for a reason. Statistics from the Department of Transport point out that if a child pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 40mph there is an 80% chance they will be killed, but if they are hit at 30mph there is an 80% chance they will survive.

South Bucks District Councillor Shorne Tilbey, Portfolio Holder for Community, says “This awareness raising event was an effective way of getting the message out to drivers that speeding in the district will not be tolerated. Many parents were among those spoken to on the day and it is hoped that the impact of being addressed by a school child will have a lasting effect on them and make them think again before exceeding the speed limit in future.”

Valerie Letheren Cabinet Member for Transportation said “We are committed to reducing the number of people injured and killed on our roads by targeting those drivers who continue to drive at excess speed. Transport for Buckinghamshire together with partners in Thames Valley Police will work together through education and enforcement to make the roads of Buckinghamshire a safer place for all road users”

During the event, which was held on 3rd November, more than 20 drivers were spoken to by pupils from the Stoke Poges School and two drivers were given fixed penalty tickets, one of which was for travelling in excess of 42mph.

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