12:51pm Thursday 31st March 2005
By Kate Southern
Parents and residents are being encouraged to name and shame the borough's most dangerous roads as part of a campaign to cut child road deaths.
Brake, the national road safety charity, has launched its Zebra Hotline, asking communities across the UK to call 0800 0687780 and tell them the areas where children on foot or bikes are at risk.
Callers will receive a free action pack to set up campaigns and educate local road users and be offered training sessions.
Brake is calling on the Government to introduce 20mph speed limits outside every school, provide funding for more safe crossings and pavements and make road safety education in schools compulsory.
Using the information, Brake will compile a dossier of the UK's dangerous roads to present to Downing Street in November, during Road Safety Week.
George Atkinson, whose 16-year-old daughter Livia was killed in 1998 when a driver mounted the pavement in Windmill Hill, Enfield, called on Enfield Council to take a more pro-active approach to implement a series of life-saving measures.
He said: "We need to prioritise road safety with children in mind. By their very nature, they are unpredictable and we need to be road safety conscious in high-density areas and outside schools.
"Far too often I see inadequate signposting outside schools, and cars are parked on either side of the road restricting views of oncoming traffic from children.
"There are too many schools without crossings or speed limits when 20mph should be the norm."
Cllr Terry Neville, cabinet member for the environment, said the council was paying out more than £350k to implement three 20mph zones around Chace Community School, St Andrew's Primary School in Churchbury Lane, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Garfield Primary School and Churchfield Primary School.
He said: "The council takes the issue of road safety extremely seriously, especially children travelling to school.
"I am keen, however, to ensure that as far as possible a lower speed limit applies only when children go to and from school. We are piloting an innovative 20mph limit on the section of Church Street, Edmonton, adjacent to the new Starks Field Primary School.
"This is a creative scheme whereby the zones will be active while the school is open when the school is closed the usual speed limit will apply. In this way, we protect our schoolchildren and ensure the smooth flow of traffic when there is no need to impose restrictions. It's the sensible and prudent way ahead for road safety."
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk