Here at Green-Schools we love to host challenges and competitions, and for Valentine’s Day 2020 we thought we would host a fun competition that’s open to Green-Schools students, parents, school staff, and the local community. We’re inviting you to share the love, and more specifically share and get thinking about Love 30!

The Love 30 Campaign is a national alliance of individuals and organisations who support lower speed limits in urban areas. Green-Schools are very keen on Love 30 and have a particular interest in supporting these lower speed limits outside schools. If you’ve spotted a 30 km/h zone outside a school – we’d love to hear about it, or better still snap a photo and share it to use on social media @greenschoolsire.

Remember Love 30 isn’t just for Valentines Day, wouldn’t it be great if it became the norm for every school day? Lower speeds of 30km/h are possible and makes for healthier, happier communities and safer streets for all users.

Competition

Would you like to see 30km/h outside your local school? Then in a few words (or 280 tweet characters), tell us why you ‘love 30 outside school’ and you will be entered in our competition. Tag @greenschoolsire and where you want to see 30km/h zones.

I love 30 outside school because….

The closing date is February 16th and we will be picking a winner on Monday 17th.

Prize: A Love 30 Valentines goodie pack

Love 30 Facts

  • When travelling at 30km/h the statistics are that if 10 pedestrians are struck one will be a fatality; if we change this speed to 60km/h the startling statistics are the reverse – that out of 10 pedestrians struck only 1 survives.
  • Did you know that Dublin City have lots of 30km/h zones?
  • County Laois has 16 sets of periodic 30km/h signs outside schools.
  • Did you know that in Europe 30km/h is fast becoming the default speed in urban areas.
  • The UK have an equivalent campaign called 20’s Plenty and the vision is going from strength to strength with many communities hosting their own individual 20mph campaigns.

Why is 30km/h better?

Children find it difficult to judge the speed of oncoming traffic and are slower than adults at judging when to safely step out on the road, We’re starting to see 30km/h and slow zones becoming the norm in residential areas. At 30 km/h the driver has more time to react and to stop, which reduces the chances of a collision. 30 km/h transforms our urban areas from car-dominated through-roads to vibrant living people-friendly spaces.

Maybe you’d like to get involved and start your own Love 30 Group?  You can find out more about the  Love 30 Campaign here or on social media

We all share the roads and public spaces. Love 30 is a positive approach to seeking safer sharing of the areas where people, especially children are at play or on their way to school, 30km/h zones are usually relatively short stretches and the extra time for a driver to pass through the two points are a few seconds.

Let’s put safety first and speed second – after all it’s only going to cost a few seconds.