‘Fast and furious’ road safety campaign

‘Fast and furious’ road safety campaign

28 February 2024

PUPILS at Ballynahinch Primary School have put pen to paper as part of a campaign to make the Dromore Road outside their campus safer.

They have written to local politicians asking for their support for what the children describe as “urgent improvements” that are needed after their now retired lollipop man was involved in a recent near miss.

The P6 pupils have launched a ‘fast and furious” campaign which aims to reduce the speed of vehicles passing the entrance to the school and it is already influencing the decision makers.

The Department for Infrastructure is to carry out a full road safety assessment at the Dromore Road which will start in the coming weeks and roads officials have also agreed to assess the road for a pedestrian crossing.

The Ballynahinch pupils have already conducted their own traffic survey and during two 15-minute periods in the morning and afternoon min November recorded a total of 319 vehicles in total. 

Surprised by the volume of traffic, the class agreed there was a need to improve children’s safety and discussed features that would enhancer this which they suggested to local politicians.

On pupil wrote in their letter: “I’m not letting anyone get run over, because people won’t want to send their children to our school and I love my school.”

Another wrote: “The problems are that cars are going too fast past the entrance to our school. Mr Morrow, our lollipop man has been clipped many times before and this needs to stop.

P6 teacher, Mrs Sharon Kirkland, said she was asked by her class to do something about the busy road. 

“As you can imagine this took me by surprise, as children are not normally concerned about issues like this at their age, as they are things for adults to sort out,” she said.

“Schools across the province have been receiving traffic calming measures to help protect the children but unfortunately, the children of Ballynahinch are not seen as being as important.”

Mrs Kirkland said there were “numerous incidents” of dangerous encounters the school’s now-retired crossing patrolman had been subjected to over the years.

She added: “These children have a right to be protected. They have a voice and they are using it now.”

Rowallane councillor, Cllr Callum Bowsie, one of the politicians to receive a letter, said the speed reduction campaign was launched at the start of the year.

He visited the pupils last week to thank them for their letters and to provide them with an update on their campaign which has prompted roads officials to carry out a full road safety assessment which will start in the coming weeks.

“Roads officials have also agreed to assess the road for a pedestrian crossing as there is no longer a school crossing patrol person,” Cllr Bowsie confirmed.

“And the school will also be included in a review of schools currently without a part-time 20mph speed limit.”

Cllr Bowsie said all the children’s concerns were raised on the floor of the Assembly by Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen who is awaiting a response from the Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd.

The local councillor also confirmed that Mr O’Dowd has also been invited to the school to accept the pupils' letters, with children’s concerns due to be discussed with police later this week.

He continued: “I want to commend Mrs Kirkland for facilitating such a worthwhile and focused campaign. The pupils’ letters are superbly written.

“I was really keen for them to meet someone who had received their letters and show them what they can and have achieved so far.”

Cllr Bowsie added: “I also got to hear some of the ideas that were left out of the letters. A zip-line across the street is definitely my favourite suggestion.”