Children are enjoying safer journeys to and from school thanks to a pioneering Council scheme, which has now won a nationally recognised award for helping to keep children safe by the school gates.
School Safe Haven Zones operate outside of schools, using temporary road closures or restrictions to limit the use of cars for school drop-offs and pick-ups. Enforced by ANPR cameras, the zones restrict vehicles during peak hours to improve air quality and safety for students.
The zones, which have been trialled in multiple locations across the city, have brought tangible benefits to both school children and local residents. Not only are there fewer hazards caused by moving and dangerously parked vehicles, but air quality has improved, and active travel – such as walking and cycling - has increased. Residents living close to the zones have also seen reductions in traffic ‘rat-runs’ and felt that their communities were safer, more pleasant places to be.
Data collected through the scheme is used to identify high-risk locations, monitor compliance and enhance the technology, making sure that any enforcement is fair and accurate. Data collected in Derby has shown significant reductions of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) concentrations, with reductions of up to 48.8% in some locations.
The pioneering zones been formally recognised with Derby’s parking and transport teams winning Best Service Team of the Year at this year’s MJ Awards, which recognise and celebrate the vital, but often unseen, work that happens across local government. The first local authority to implement this type of scheme outside of London and Wales, the award highlighted the Derby City Council’s innovative and strategic approach, such as the positive impact on child safety, use of active travel methods and the improvements in air quality around schools across the city.
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability said:
"We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact that our School Safe Havens have brought to Derby, and I’m so pleased that this work has been recognised on a national level.
“This isn't just about reducing traffic; it's about making sure that our children are safe outside the school gates and enabling healthy habits from a young age by promoting active travel and contributing to a healthier generation.
“By partnering with other local authorities to share our expertise, we’re not just making Derby safer, we’re also helping other councils do the same.”
Following overwhelming success in trials, the Council has teamed up with councils in Walsall, Coventry and Hull to roll out the project and improve safety elsewhere in the UK. Income of around £500,000 has been generated through this roll-out that is being reinvested into the project and other local services, such as providing cycle training and bicycles for school children as well as supporting other highways projects and the work of the school crossing patrol team.
More information about School Safe Haven Zones can be found on the Council’s website.