We Must Drive At 20MPH…For The Chiilllldreeeennnn!

Campaigners say research which suggests children cannot accurately judge the speed of cars travelling faster than 20mph has added weight to their efforts to reduce speed limits in York.

Bet you didn't see that one coming, eh?

The study measured more than 100 children’s ability to detect approaching cars in a road-crossing scenario.

It found adult pedestrians could make accurate judgments for vehicles travelling up to 50mph, but primary school-age children’s judgements became unreliable once the approach speed went above 20mph.

Maybe the adults are just the ones who survived to pass on their genes by not running out in front of cars, but rather using the crossings?

Nah. Too sensible...

Anna Semlyen, York’s 20’s Plenty campaign manager, said the research was “conclusive” evidence that speed limits needed to be lowered in York.

Well, yes, she would, wouldn't she...

I mean, if we just used this information to try to impress upon children how important it was to use the crossing, or on their parents to impress upon them how important it was to teach safe road skills, where would her hectoring little pressure group be then?

She said: “It’s no surprise to me that this is true. We cannot address child road safety by simply teaching them to pay more attention.”

No, indeed. That wouldn't satisfy your inner control-freak, would it?

“Child pedestrians can’t judge approach speeds as well as adults. It’s simplistic to blame children and suggest they ‘run out’ without checking.”

And it's pretty simplistic to assume there's only one possible way to use this information...

“But this study suggests it’s drivers going too fast that create errors, as it is then impossible for children to make correct judgments. It’s up to adult society to protect families through 20mph limits where people live and for drivers to obey the signs.”

We must all agree to a cut in our speed. It's for the children! Only a monster would disagree, surely?

Professor John Wann, who led the research, said the simplest solution was in traffic regulation.

Of course it was. It always is...

“This is not a matter of children not paying attention, but a problem related to low-level visual detection mechanisms, so even when children are paying very close attention they may fail to detect a fast-approaching vehicle. The vehicles that they are more likely to step in front of are the faster vehicles that are more likely to result in a fatality. Travelling one mile though a residential area at 20mph as opposed to 30mph will only add 60 seconds to journey time.”

So do it! Do it for the children!

And when they still get run over, albeit at a reduced rate? Well, there's always 15MPH to try. Then 10MPH. Remember, the ratchet only ever goes one way with these loons....