Birmingham pupils' road safety idea

Nov 28 2009 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail

SPEEDING drivers will be shamed into slowing down outside a Birmingham school after kids won their bid for high-tech kit.

Pupils at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary in Tile Cross pitched the idea to councillors at a Dragon’s Den-style event to decide how funds should be spent.

Coun Ian Ward said the panel was so impressed that it agreed to invest in the idea.

The flashing sign will give motorists a warning if they break the 30mph speed limit on the busy stretch of St Giles Road.

Coun Ward (Lab, Shard End) said: “It’s excellent that primary school pupils are giving thought to an idea which will help not only them but other people.”

Children in Years 5 and 6 from schools across the Shard End area were invited to pitch ideas to the ‘dragons’ to help make roads safer.

Our Lady’s headteacher Damian Ward said: “The children have worked so hard.”

Samantha Davis, aged ten, said: “It should reduce accidents and make children feel safer.”

Classmate Jamie Cooke, also ten, added: “It’s trying to slow down speeding motorists.”