Few children in Oxfordshire are likely to benefit from new legislation giving local authorities power to set new 20mph speed limits near schools.

Highways chiefs say that the widespread introduction of new 20mph zones could not be afforded within their current resources.

And they state that putting new speed limits outside schools may not produce a significant reduction in the number of road accident casualties anyway.

The comments follow several requests in the county for 20mph limits outside schools. Last year a total of 5,089 people signed a petition calling for reduced speed limits outside every school in Bicester. Legislation due to come into force in April will give the local authorities the power to introduce 20mph speed limits without the need for the present Government permission.

It is envisaged that 20mph speed limits would be most appropriate for urban and residential areas, near schools, shops and where there are higher proportions of elderly people and children. But a report to Oxfordshire's highways committee suggests that accidents outside schools are not connected to the speed of traffic. It adds: "Accidents outside schools are not often speed related, which suggests widespread 20mph limits would not bring significant casualty reductions, although concerns about safety among parents and residents might be allayed." The report advises councillors that putting 20mph speed limits outside schools would be a huge task and advises that extensive introduction of 20mph limits could not be accommodated within the present resources. But it adds that the step may be considered among in the process of minor schemes.

Mr Geoff Barrell, the county's principal engineer, said: "Just putting up signs won't slow vehicles. We're trying to preach a long-term message of appropriate speeds for appropriate places. Ironically school entrances are not particularly hazardous.

"At key times there's so much activity that traffic is not going fast anyway."

The issue of 20mph limits was being discussed by the county's highways committee today.

Story date: Friday 19 February

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