Green Party TD Steven Matthews has welcomed the introduction of periodical 30km/h speed limits outside schools in County Wicklow starting in conjunction with the coming school year. Deputy Matthews has been working on road safety measures across Wicklow and in particular improving safe access to schools so was delighted to see this project receive cross-party support from members of Wicklow County Council. Wicklow is the first county to introduce this at a countywide basis and signage will be installed shortly in the areas included in this safety initiative. Speaking following the announcement, Deputy Matthews said:
“This is an excellent initiative that will prioritise the safety and security of children travelling to school across County Wicklow. I have been campaigning for 30km/h speed limits since my time on Wicklow County Council and I am proud that Wicklow will be the first county to introduce this measure.
“Lower speed limits in school communities are crucial to reducing the incidence of road accidents, preventing serious injuries, and lowering vehicle emissions. Research has shown that survival rates after collisions are much higher at 30km/h than at 50km/h. 30km/h speed limits around schools will lead to more responsible driving practices and awareness of the need to protect vulnerable road users.
“Reducing the speed of vehicles will also help to ensure a more child-friendly and welcoming environment for all young people walking, cycling, or taking the bus to school. The announcement of the lower speed limits follows the selection of eight Wicklow schools for the Safe Routes to School programme, which supports the development of active travel infrastructure around schools.
“New solar panel signage will be introduced around schools alerting drivers to the changes before the return to school later this month and I would encourage people to check the Wicklow County Council for the full details of the rollout.
“This is an incredibly important step towards improving safety in all our school communities. I would like to thank all those who have supported lower speed limits outside schools including the Green-Schools programme and the ‘Love 30’ Campaign. The 30km/h speed limits will benefit parents, teachers and students across County Wicklow”, concluded Deputy Matthews.
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