Wiltshire Police have joined parents, teachers and councillors in a renewed push to tackle speeding outside a Swindon primary school after thousands of motorists were caught breaking the limit over the past year.
Officers say more than 5,100 speeding offences have been recorded outside Holy Cross Catholic Primary School on Queens Drive during the last 12 months.
According to police figures, an average of 79 drivers were found exceeding the 30mph limit during each of 65 separate enforcement sessions carried out near the school.
Police say the scale of the problem has prompted fresh efforts involving the school community, Wiltshire Police and Swindon Borough Council after enforcement alone failed to reduce speeds sufficiently.
Andy Hicks described Queens Drive as an unusual and high-risk location.
“Despite being a 30mph road, it consists of six lanes, three in each direction, effectively creating a mini-motorway directly past a primary school,” he said.
He added that the nearby ambulance station and support hub for vulnerable adults made strict compliance with the speed limit especially important.
On Monday, parents, pupils, police officers and representatives from local authorities gathered outside the school to highlight the issue and discuss further safety measures.
Students also took part in road safety lessons and demonstrations focused on vehicle stopping distances.
Philip Wilkinson said speeding around schools remained a major concern.
“There are more speeding drivers caught outside this school driving over 50mph in a 30mph zone than probably anywhere else in the county,” he said.
“That’s why we have to make these areas of potential high harm a high priority.”
Wiltshire Police say officers have also witnessed dangerous behaviour from pedestrians attempting to cross all six lanes of traffic instead of using nearby crossings.
The force is now working with Swindon Borough Council to explore additional signage and other road safety improvements.
Concerns have also been raised that some sat-nav systems may still incorrectly display Queens Drive as a 40mph road despite the limit being reduced to 30mph in 2018.
Drivers caught speeding face a minimum penalty of a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.
