Suffolk Coastal MP wants action over road safety at schools

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coastal, has launched a petition calling for improvements to road safety outside primary schools in her constituency.

She said children were already suffering from anxiety, with parents and teachers fearing the worst could happen unless urgent action was taken.

The national speed limit sign right outside Bucklesham Primary School's gates (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Riddell-Carpenter said: “On almost every school visit I make, headteachers and staff raise the same concern with me – road safety.

“Children are really worried about speeding and road safety, and they have anxiety going to class in the morning.

“In lots of rural constituencies, there is no way to get to school other than to be driven; it’s constant chaos outside school gates every morning and every afternoon.”

Rachael Rudge, headteacher at Bucklesham Primary School, said she first brought her concerns up earlier this year.

She said: “Many of our parents have to park on the 60mph road on our boundary and cross that road to drop their child off at school – we have no safety barrier at our main pedestrian gate.”

The petition is asking the government to urge Suffolk County Council to put together a tailored road safety plan for every school.

These plans would outline measures such as 20mph speed limits, appropriate crossings, enforcement and walking routes.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter holds the petition with children (Image: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)

The petition has already attracted hundreds of signatures and will run until the first week of September before being presented to Parliament.

Mrs Riddell-Carpenter said the petition is part of her plans to launch a national campaign later in the year seeking tighter laws surrounding road safety in schools.

She said she would be looking to bring a 10-minute rule bill to the government, looking to adopt Australia-like laws for designated safety zones outside schools.

Following last week’s discussion on easing community applications for 20mph zones, the county council revealed it was already reviewing its criteria, with a report due by the end of the year.