Safer Routes To School

Where are they commonly used

Safe School Zones are typically implemented on streets around schools, including local residential roads and roads immediately adjacent to school entrances. They are designed to alert drivers to the presence of a school, protect children and pedestrians, and create a safer environment for drop-off, pick-up, walking, and cycling.

The design of gateway features and supporting road safety measures varies depending on the type of road, and the level of road safety concern, but our goal is to establish a consistent standard to address different types of routes in Wolverhampton that becomes familiar to road users.

Why are they used

These zones use measures such as reduced speed limits, speed humps, raised crossings, signage, and road markings to lower vehicle speeds, reduce the risk of collisions, and improve driver awareness. Safe School Zones improve road safety for children, encourage walking and cycling, reduce reliance on school travel by car, and help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution near schools, promoting a healthier and more sustainable travel environment.

Where are they commonly used

School warning signs with flashing lights and advisory 20mph speed limits are typically installed on 30mph roads in advance of schools, where there is high pedestrian activity and vehicle traffic. They are most common on busier roads directly adjacent to school entrances, where children are most at risk and drivers need to be especially alert. These signs act as a visual cue to alert drivers to slow down and take extra care in areas where children are walking, cycling, or crossing the road.

Why are they used

These measures are designed to reduce vehicle speeds, increase driver awareness, and improve safety for children and other pedestrians. By clearly marking school zones and reinforcing speed limits at critical times, the signs help lower the risk of collisions and create a safer environment for walking and cycling. They also support healthier, more sustainable travel by encouraging active journeys to school, and improving air quality near schools.

Where are they commonly used

Dragon’s teeth, increased width hazard warning lines and other road markings are typically installed in advance of and adjacent to schools, where there is high pedestrian activity and vehicle traffic. They are most common on busier roads where children are most at risk and drivers need to be especially alert. These markings act as a visual cue to alert drivers to slow down and take extra care in areas where children are walking, cycling, or crossing the road.

Why are they used

These road markings are designed to increase driver awareness, reinforce speed limits, and improve safety for children and pedestrians. Dragon’s teeth and other visual cues highlight areas where drivers need to adjust their driving behaviour, helping to reduce congestion and the risk of collisions. By guiding driver behaviour, these markings support safer walking and cycling routes, encourage active travel, and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable environment around schools.

Where are they commonly used

School Keep Clear zig-zag markings are applied on roads immediately outside school entrances and pedestrian crossings, where stopping or parking could create safety hazards. They are designed to keep visibility splays clear, ensuring drivers can see children and other pedestrians entering or leaving the school, and to maintain safe access for traffic during busy drop-off and pick-up times.

Why are they used

These markings help to improve road safety by preventing vehicles from stopping in critical areas. By maintaining clear visibility splays and reducing congestion near entrances, they lower the risk of collisions, support safer walking and cycling routes, and encourage children and parents to use active travel options. They also contribute to a smoother, more efficient flow of traffic around schools and local streets.

Where are they commonly used

Waiting and loading restrictions are applied on streets where parked or stationary vehicles could create safety hazards or disrupt traffic flow. This includes areas near junctions, pedestrian crossings, major roads, narrow roads, and outside schools, as well as locations where visibility splays need to be kept clear to ensure drivers and pedestrians can see and be seen.

Why are they used

These restrictions help to improve road safety and keep traffic moving efficiently. By preventing vehicles from stopping in critical areas, they reduce the risk of collisions, maintain clear visibility splays, and support safer walking and cycling routes. They also contribute to a more reliable and efficient road network for all road users.

Where are they commonly used

Traffic bollards can be installed along pavements, pedestrian routes, and areas near schools or busy streets where vehicles might otherwise park or encroach.

Because bollards are a relatively expensive solution, locations are carefully prioritised. Each site is assessed based on factors such as reported collisions linked to inconsiderate parking, proximity to schools with footway parking issues, and pedestrian areas with high footfall. Before installing bollards, the need for waiting and loading restrictions is investigated and implemented where possible to address parking issues, with bollards used only where these measures are insufficient to maintain safety and accessibility.

Why are they used

Bollards help improve road safety and pedestrian accessibility by physically preventing pavement parking and keeping pedestrian routes clear. They also help maintain visibility splays at junctions and crossings, reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, and support safer, more reliable walking routes, including for children travelling to and from school.

Where are they commonly used

20mph limits are introduced in places where slower speeds make streets safer and more pleasant for everyone. You’ll often see them in residential areas, outside schools, on busy shopping streets, and in other locations where people walking, cycling, or spending time in the community are the main priority.

Where a cost-benefit analysis shows a strong potential to reduce casualties, 20 mph limits are often combined with other safety measures, such as speed cushions or raised tables, to make them even more effective. Streets with high pedestrian activity, like school zones and town centres, are particularly likely to benefit from these combined measures.

Why are they used

Lower speeds make streets safer for everyone. Drivers have more time to react, and the risk and severity of collisions are reduced, helping protect children, pedestrians, and cyclists. When paired with other safety measures, 20 mph zones can be even more effective at preventing accidents. They also encourage people to walk and cycle by making streets feel calmer and more inviting. Introducing 20 mph limits is part of a wider effort to promote active travel, reduce traffic injuries, and create healthier, more liveable communities.

Where are they commonly used

Residential Streets and Local Distributor Roads, especially in 20 mph or 30 mph areas where traffic needs to be slowed, but buses, ambulances, and fire engines can still pass with minimal delay and discomfort.

Why they are used

Vertical traffic calming, such as speed cushions, is designed to slow vehicles down. Studies show that mean speeds over cushions are typically 15–19 mph, with about 21 mph between cushions. Even small reductions make a big difference to safety: research suggests that lowering the average speed by just 1 mph can reduce collisions by around 5%.

While before / after evidence on vehicle emissions is mixed, in busy urban areas, where traffic already stops and starts, 20 mph driving often produces fewer carbon emissions. Traffic-calmed streets also see fewer vehicles and feel safer for walking and cycling. This not only encourages healthier lifestyles but also helps improve air quality and reduces the number and severity of injury collisions.

Where are they commonly used

Residential Streets and Local Roads with High Pedestrian Activity, especially in 20 mph or 30 mph areas with schools, parks, or playgrounds, where slower traffic is essential for safety and data shows high risk to road users.

Why they are used

Studies show that mean vehicle speeds over road humps are between 13–15 mph, with speeds between humps averaging around 21 mph. Even small reductions make a big difference to safety: research suggests that lowering the average speed by just 1 mph can reduce collisions by around 5%.

While before / after evidence on vehicle emissions is mixed, in busy urban areas, where traffic already stops and starts, 20 mph driving often produces fewer carbon emissions. Traffic-calmed streets also see fewer vehicles and feel safer for walking and cycling. This not only encourages healthier lifestyles but also helps improve air quality and reduces the number and severity of injury collisions.

Where are they commonly used

Town Centres, High Streets, and sometimes near schools, where pedestrian and other forms of sustainable activity is considered a priority.

Why they are used

Raised tables combine the benefits of a speed hump with a flat pedestrian-friendly surface, making them ideal for areas where both speed reduction and pedestrian priority are needed.

Studies show that mean vehicle speeds over road humps are between 13–15 mph, with speeds between measures averaging around 21 mph. Even small reductions make a big difference to safety: research suggests that lowering the average speed by just 1 mph can reduce collisions by around 5%.

While before / after evidence on vehicle emissions is mixed, in busy urban areas, where traffic already stops and starts, 20 mph driving often produces fewer carbon emissions. Traffic-calmed streets also see fewer vehicles and feel safer for walking and cycling. This not only encourages healthier lifestyles but also helps improve air quality and reduces the number and severity of injury collisions.

Where are they commonly used

Road narrowings reduce the carriageway width, usually by extending the kerb at junctions, build-outs, central islands, pedestrian refuges, and the formalisation of on-street car parking. They are common on local distributor roads and in busy pedestrian areas such as schools, parks, town centres, and high streets. They are useful in reducing pedestrian crossing distances at junctions where HGV traffic is uncommon.

Why are they used

Narrowings encourage drivers to keep tighter road positioning and to discourage overtaking, which can help reduce speeds. They are often chosen where speed is not the main safety concern, or where other calming methods are unsuitable. They can also support pedestrian safety with features like dropped kerbs and tactile paving, or be combined with speed cushions where conditions and cost–benefit analysis support it.

Where are they commonly used

Priority Give Way measures are typically found on narrow streets or minor roads that join busier routes. They are often used in residential areas, town centres, and other locations where access for larger vehicles must be maintained. These measures work by creating points where drivers naturally give way to opposing traffic, helping to slow vehicles and improve safety. For them to be effective, traffic flows need to be balanced so that this interaction between opposing directions is naturally encouraged.

Why are they used

Priority Give Way encourages vehicles to slow at key points, increasing driver awareness in areas with high pedestrian activity. It also allows for the formalisation of on-street parking where space is limited, contributing to calmer, safer, and more pedestrian-friendly streets. While exact speed reductions vary depending on traffic flow and street layout, this measure effectively complements other traffic calming features to enhance road safety.

Where are they commonly used

Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) are installed in locations where extra driver attention is desirable, but where more intensive traffic calming measures may not be justified. You’ll often find them outside schools, near pedestrian crossings, or on roads with sharp bends and hidden junctions. They’re also used where drivers transition from faster roads to lower speed limits, particularly when traditional traffic calming is not cost-effective or feasible.

Why are they used

These signs are designed to make roads safer by reacting directly to driver behaviour. If you’re going too fast, the sign lights up to warn you providing additional benefit compared to a normal road sign. By grabbing attention at the right moment, VAS encourage safer speeds, reduce accidents, and help protect people who live, walk, and drive in the area. They are also a cost-effective solution in situations where road safety concerns have been identified, but a cost-benefit analysis shows that physical traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, cannot be justified.

Where & Why

• Low pedestrian demand, light traffic (side roads, residential streets).
• Example counts Pedestrians=40/hr, Vehicle=300/hr
• Improves access; not intended to manage traffic.

Advantages

• Low cost, quick to deliver.
• Essential for accessibility (wheelchairs, prams, visually impaired).
• Minimal impact on vehicle flow.

Disadvantages

• Potential high pedestrian delay at busy times.
• Limited safety benefits on faster/busier roads.
• Not suitable where demand or speeds are higher.

Where & Why

• Low–moderate pedestrian demand with moderate traffic on wider roads (more than 8m).

• Example counts Pedestrians=120/hr, Vehicle=450/hr

• Allows two-stage crossing where continuous gaps are scarce.

Advantages

• Safer than crossing in one movement.

• Relatively low cost; little signal equipment.

• Usually low vehicle delay.

Disadvantages

• Pedestrian delay remains.

• Needs road width; can constrain turning/lanes.

• Less effective with high speeds or heavy flows.

Where & Why

• Moderate pedestrian demand and moderate to relatively high traffic on lower-speed roads.
• Example counts Pedestrians=220/hr, Vehicle=600/hr
• Gives pedestrians priority without signals.

Advantages

• Low pedestrian delay (cross when drivers yield).
• Encourages lower speeds/driver awareness.
• Cheaper and simpler to maintain than signals.

Disadvantages

• Reliant on driver compliance.
• Can cause vehicle delay with heavy pedestrian use.
• Not suitable on high-speed or multi-lane approaches.

Where & Why

• High pedestrian demand with busy traffic (urban corridors, near amenities).
• Example counts Pedestrians=400/hr, Vehicle=800/hr
• Sensors adjust timings for efficiency/safety.

Advantages

• Vehicle detectors can help reduce unnecessary pedestrian delay.
• On crossing sensors can detect if a person is still crossing and extend the delay to vehicles, reducing the risk of accidents caused by people being stranded in the carriageway.
• Can be coordinated with nearby signal junctions.

Disadvantages

• More expensive/complex than zebra or refuge.
• Some delay to pedestrians at peak times.
• More costly to install and maintain.