Eight local schools to have 20mph speed limits implemented outside gates

Eight schools in the local area will have a new part-time 20mph speed limit introduced outside their front gates.

At each of the schools new road signs will be erected in the form of standard fixed speed limit roundel signs with flashing amber lights set to come on at the times the reduced speed limit applies.

This follows trials at a number of schools in 2019 to determine the effectiveness of this arrangement of signs and it was found they reduced the mean speed.

CBS Primary School at Keady Road, Armagh; St Paul’s High School Camlough Road, Bessbrook and Tandragee Junior High School at Armagh Road Tandragee are all to benefit from the Infrastructure Minister’s announcement and will see new 20mph limits operational from today (Monday).

Minister, Nichola Mallon commented: “I made a commitment in September last year to bring forward legislation to introduce part-time 20mph speed limits at around 100 schools across Northern Ireland so that parents, children and staff will be safer as they go to and from school every day.

“I can today announce that part-time speed limits have now been set in legislation for 103 schools at 90 sites across Northern Ireland. Children, parents and teachers in every part of the North will see positive, practical changes to limit vehicles speeding on the roads around their schools.

“Road safety, especially around our schools, is a priority of mine and it is my intention that through future programmes many more schools will have a 20mph speed limit on the roads outside their gates.

“My officials are working to complete the schemes, with the legislation now in place to enforce the new part-time 20mph speed limit measures at these schools.

“This is another step forward in our efforts to make our roads safer for all users, however, I would reiterate that we all have a collective responsibility to take care using our roads.”

At each of the schools new road signs will be erected in the form of standard fixed speed limit roundel signs with flashing amber lights set to come on at the times the reduced speed limit applies. This follows trials at a number of schools in 2019 to determine the effectiveness of this arrangement of signs and it was found they reduced the mean speed.

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