New Speed Limits Around Badenoch and Strathspey Schools

A new set of speed limit measures goes into operation this week from Tuesday 16th August, 2005 at three schools in Badenoch and Strathspey.

The existing 30mph limits at Kingussie are being extended on Ruthven Road and part time 20mph speed limits go into operation around Kingussie High and Primary and Grantown Primary.

With the help of £2.157M funding from the Scottish Executive, The Highland Council aims to get the message across that slowing down near schools saves lives and that reducing the speed limit to 20 mph outside schools significantly improves the safety of children walking or cycling to school.

The three Kingussie and Grantown schools are the first to receive 20mph part time speed limits in Badenoch and Strathspey bringing the total number of schools benefiting from part time speed limits in Highland to 25 at present.

These schools are part of an ongoing programme for the next four years, which will see all schools in the Highlands with 20mph speed limits.

Councillor Gregor Rimell, Chairman of the Highland Council’s Badenoch and Strathspey Area Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "It is common sense for drivers to be extra careful when school children are about. It is good to have legal enforcement to remind drivers of their responsibilities, I would like to say thank you to teachers and especially Northern Constabulary for the childrens’ training in Road Safety, and ask drivers to be really vigilant at the busy times."

Roads outside schools can be notoriously dangerous places for children travelling to and from the classroom. Injury accidents have fallen by 60%, child pedestrian accidents by 70% and child cyclist accidents by 48% where these 20mph designated measures are put in place.

Drivers travelling near the schools should be aware that the 20mph part time speed limit applies on school days, Mondays to Fridays as follows:

Grantown on Spey: from 0830 to 0900; 1215 to 1330; 1430 to 1450; and 1510 to 1530.

Kingussie from 0830 to 0900; 1200 to 1325; 1430 to 1450 and 1515 to 1545.

With research showing that 20 mph speed limits are an effective vehicle for reducing the number of accidents and severity of casualties on our roads, it is clear to see why all drivers including parents must abide by them. The Highland Council hopes that the new 20 mph signs will raise awareness of the 20 mph speed limit outside Badenoch and Strathspey schools and encourage drivers to slow down.

Murdo MacLeod, Highland Council’s Traffic Technician said: "Since implementing the part time 20mph zones around Highland primary schools we have had positive feedback from the public and school staff that the signs are making a difference. However, we cannot be complacent and I would urge those drivers who are still ignoring the signs to give more consideration to the speed limit which is only in operation part time when pupils are coming to and from school."