Roads outside schools must be safer — Newcastle can act now
The serious collision in High Heaton, where a 15-year-old girl was struck while crossing near Jesmond Park Academy, is a stark reminder that children in Newcastle still face unacceptable risks on their daily journeys to and from school.
At SPACE for Jesmond we believe that every child should be able to walk, wheel or cycle to school safely. Incidents like this show that key roads near schools need much better protection.
Practical changes that would make a real difference
On busy through-routes, there are proven, effective measures the Council can implement now:
- Raised zebra crossings or raised tables to slow vehicle speeds and give children safer priority at key desire lines.
- More frequent and better-placed formal crossings, especially near school entrances and bus stops.
- Kerb build-outs to shorten crossing distances and improve visibility.
- Tightened junction geometry so turning vehicles slow down and pedestrians are more visible.
- Consistently enforced 20 mph zones or timed school-zone speed limits where appropriate.
- Improved footways and waiting areas for areas where footfall is high.
These are straightforward interventions widely used across the UK. They reduce speeds, improve driver awareness and create safer conditions for all road users.
Proactive, not reactive, road safety
We urge Newcastle City Council to get serious about the space outside schools – with regard to road safety, pollution, and active travel to schools.
As we’ve written about at length, School Streets are long overdue for schools like West Jesmond Primary, and for schools like Jesmond Park Academy, changes to the roadscape are needed to enable active travel and increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Small, well-designed changes can make these environments far safer, and Newcastle City Council have stalled for too long.