“Aggressive and dangerous” driving near schools means Bracknell Forest Council should impose 20 mile per hour speed limits on surrounding streets, two councillors have said.

Tina Eberle and Nazar Zahuruddin want councillors to vote for possible new restrictions on drivers at a meeting on Wednesday, November 29. They say this is necessary to protect children in the borough.

The two Liberal Democrat councillors’ proposal say there have been “reports from residents of aggressive and dangerous driver behaviour on roads near to schools in the borough.”

It adds: “A pedestrian is multiple times more likely to die if hit by a car travelling at 30 mph than they are at 20 mph.”


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Councillors Eberle and Zahuruddin want Guy Gillbe – the Labour councillor responsible for roads – to look for ways to improve road safety, including 20 mile per hour speed limits.

The proposal says: “Council recognises our responsibility to protect residents in the borough, particularly children and young people, and therefore requests the Executive Member for Highways and Transport work with officers to explore options for making further improvements to road safety for pupils on their journey to and from school, including implementing 20 mph speed limits on roads adjacent to schools where needed.”

The proposal comes after reports that Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak is considering proposals to restrict councils’ ability to impose 20 mile per hour zones.

In an interview with the Sun newspaper in September he described council-imposed driving restrictions such as “blanket 20 mile and hour speed limits” as part of a “relentless attack on motorists.”

He also criticised councils for imposing “low traffic neighbourhoods” – which are schemes to restrict car access to certain streets.

And in July the Guardian newspaper reported that Mr Sunak was considering restricting councils’ abilities to impose 20 miles per hour speed limits.

Responding to the report in July, councillor Gillbe said at the time the council was “monitoring” government proposals. But he also said that the council had no plans to introduce low traffic neighbourhoods, and was focussing on supporting public transport.

He said: “The council is working hard to deliver a sustainable and effective transport system which tackles climate change, whilst supporting the local economy and improving personal mobility and accessibility.

“This includes supporting public transport, providing facilities for more active travel and much more. We’re also encouraging our residents to make cleaner transport choices for local journeys.  Engaging with the public on practical options is always the best way forward.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Christoph Eberle is also set to ask councillor Gillbe for an update on the council’s efforts to increase the use of public transport, at the same meeting on Wednesday.