Schoolboy hit by car on Welsh road after drivers ignore 20mph limit
Twm Owen – Local democracy reporter
A schoolboy was struck by a car while making his way to his bus stop in a village where most drivers are ignoring the 20 mile per hour speed limit.
The incident in Little Mill was highlighted at a council meeting where the sitting of the school bus stops was questioned.
Councillor Tony Kear, who represents the village, said the boy was hit by a car on Monday, November 24 as he was making his way to the pick up point for the school bus.
He said: “Parents have raised with me serious concerns that the bus stops are inappropriately situated particularly given the continue issues of speeding on Berthon Road through to Alexander Terrace.”
He asked if Cllr Catrin Maby, Monmouthshire County Council’s cabinet member responsible for highways, would consider a review of school pick up points and what further measures could be used to tackle speeding in the village which is on the A472 Berthon Road between Usk and Pontypool.
Cllr Maby said she was “really sorry to hear about this accident” and said a resident has also written to the council about it and asked what could be done about speeding.
But she said the latest speed survey, in August, “didn’t seem to indicate an issue” as she said average speeds were 23.7mph.
Cllr Kear said the survey showed 57 per cent of drivers are exceeding 30mph in the village despite the 20mph limit being in place.
Cabinet member Cllr Maby said she hadn’t seen the full survey but said when looking at speed surveys it is usually the range between 20 and 25mph that is measured.
Road safety review
She said a road safety review could look at school transport stops, potentially a further pedestrian crossing and speed enforcement “and how they interact together”.
She said: “The average speed was 23.7mph but it only takes one dangerous driver to cause an accident.”
Cllr Kear said as most drivers are travelling at faster than 30mph he asked if Cllr Mabey would meet with the local Llanbadoc Community Council which she agreed to do and she also said the Go Safe speed camera partnership does attend Little Mill.
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All those politicians denigrating this policy must carry part the blame.
I agree. Initially I was dubious about – indeed, even to a degree irritated by – the introduction of the 20 mph regulation; but subsequent experience of it in our two nearby local towns where there’s quite a lot of pedestrian footfall gradually convinced me of the point of it.
It became obvious in practicality to me that the slower speed facilitated swifter braking and, in consequence, less possibility of serious injury, and we now know that serious injury as a consequence of road accidents has diminished – presumably as a consequence of the new regulation.
Those politicians on the whole represent the Conservative and Reform parties.
And for balance, we should say that the politicians who implemented 20mph in such an expensive and chaotic fashion were not. Common sense would suggest that the limit outside schools, hospitals, places where kids are getting school buses etc should be 10mph at most and with a heavy, punitive camera system in place for those who break the law. Not a single Welsh politician of any hue has spoken any sense on this issue since it was first raised.
Don’t kids have to walk several miles now? Why don’t they deserve protection.