Road safety charity Brake is providing its support to the campaign of a primary school in Whittle-le-Woods, near Chorley, that is calling for the introduction of a new 20 mph zone for roads in the area.

Whittle-le-Woods Church of England Primary School is situated on a road in the town that currently has an advisory 20 mph speed limit for traffic, but this limit is often ignored by traffic in favour of the statutory 40 mph speed limit for the carriageway.

As such, many motorists travel at what local campaigners believe is excessive speed in the vicinity of the school, with a case reported last year of a young boy who was struck by a van outside the school.

Furthermore, parents and teachers have become increasingly concerned regarding the growing number of collisions that have taken place on the road in recent months.

A campaign group has therefore now been formed by local parents and the school, with Brake lending its full support to the calls for a change in the speed limit and the introduction of new safer crossings for pupils heading to and from the school.

Karen Field, a parent and local campaigner, stated: "Halving the speed limit would greatly reduce the risk of further collisions and help keep our children safe."

Campaigns officer at Brake Ed Morrow added: "Brake is 100 per cent behind the campaign at Whittle-le-Woods Primary School.

"Everyone – adults and children – has the right to walk and cycle, to get to school or work, to visit local shops and facilities, or just for their enjoyment, without being endangered by fast traffic." 

A demonstration was held outside the school on October 15th to highlight the concerns of parents, teachers and pupils, with Zak the Zebra – mascot of Brake – in attendance to help to raise awareness.

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This story was posted by Daniel Crosby, Assistant Marketing Executive at the Fuel Card Group.