Child bollards battle speeding drivers
13.08.2009 - Dominic Sacco
(7)
'Child bollards' have been placed outside a Leicester school to reduce speeding in the area. Leicester city council has erected statues worth £350 outside Avenue Primary School in a bid to trick drivers into thinking a child is crossing the road.
If the scheme is a success, more 3ft bollards could find themselves placed outside every school in Leicester. The bollards join a new zebra crossing and 20mph speed limit outside the school, as part of a £230,000 road safety scheme.
Each mannequin stands close to the edge of the pavement and faces the road. And one has already been knocked over, according to the Leicester Mercury newspaper.
Leicester city council's highway spokesman Patrick Kitterick said: "They are grabbing people's attention and if that helps drivers slow down then it's a good thing. It's the first time we've used them and we're trying them out to see how they work."
But some believe the statues could distract drivers rather than slow them down. The AA's head of road policy Paul Watters said: "It's a nice idea but it's a shame they can't be retracted when it isn't term time. I worry they'll be vandalised and can see people having a laugh with them after a few drinks on a Friday night."
