Speed Limits not Spin

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Sep 2007

Following the issue of application packs to local schools, Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives plans to ask for schools to pay for 'advisory' 20 mph signs featuring a cartoon snail, rather than a speed limit warning, outside schools

Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester, Martin Tod, commented:

Local people are asking for speed limits, not spin. They want enforceable speed limits, not cartoon snails. And it's a real insult that money to pay for them is being taken from schools that could be spent on education. These signs should be properly funded from the roads budget.

Southampton City Council is already imposing 20mph limits outside all schools and Portsmouth City Council's scheme will do the same on most residential roads.

A recent Audit Commission report shows that Britain's roads are among the safest in the world for adults - but not for children. A child pedestrian in England is three times more likely to die on our roads than in Italy and twice as likely as in France.