Junior traffic cops clock speeding driver at 69 in 40 zone

CHILDREN clocked a driver doing 69mph in a 40mph zone just metres from their primary school.

Thorpe Hesley Primary School pupils caught the driver shooting along Upper Wortley Road took part in a police speed patrol as part of their #40istoofast campaign.

They hope to have the limit reduced to 30mph, as at nearby St Bede’s RC Primary School.

Pupils spoke to drivers caught speeding, appealing to them directly to kill their speed and not a classmate.

The 69mph speeder was later interviewed by police and summonsed to court, after admitting speeding.

Children have also starred in a hard-hitting three-minute video, which they hope will prompt politicians to lower the limit.

The film, which was presented this week to the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Eve Rose Keenan (below), was organised and overseen by teaching assistant Amanda Grant.

She said: “We had an opportunity to make a film with the children and we chose to focus on this topic.

“This has been a bugbear in Thorpe Hesley for many years. 

“There have been several accidents, including one fatality, on the road outside school.

“People have complained, but no-one has done anything about it before now.”

She added: “We hope the film will increase the profile of what we’re doing and persuade the Mayor to help us do something about it.

“We will be putting in an official application to have the limit reduced as well.”

Deputy headteacher Rachel Rawlinson also appears in the slick video, making the case for a lower speed limit.

“We feel passionate about reducing the speed limit outside school, for the safety of our children,” she said.

“The video was produced to raise awareness of the dangers our children face on their journey to school.

“While I’ve been here there have been a number of accidents on that road, some of them very close to the school entrance, and one resulting in a fatality.”

She added: “The school is not visible to road users and has a large volume of traffic travelling past at high speeds.

“Most schools have a much lower speed limit, some down to just 20mph. 

“Lots have speed bumps or markings on the road — we don’t have any of those things.”

Children hit by a car travelling at 40mph are four-and-a-half times more likely to be killed than those struck at 30mph, the film points out.

Sgt Simon Kirkham, of Rotherham Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The message is that communities don’t want speeding vehicles in their area. We will support that wherever possible.

“We always take a very dim view of traffic offences — particularly speeding close to schools.

“We need to ensure the safety of young people near schools, hence our robust approach in this case.”

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