The campaign turned Dundonald Road outside the school into a temporary 20mph zone, using full size 20mph signs. Many of the materials were designed and made by the children, and hand held on the day at the side of the road. Leaflets and stickers were handed to motorists, many of whom expressed their support for our aims and objectives. Following a letter from the Head Teacher to all parents to explain the campaign, most left their cars at home for the day and walked their children to school - many came in 20 minutes earlier than usual to join in the roadside day of action as commuter traffic trundled past on its way into Wimbledon

More and more children are being ferried to school by car these days. Surveys have shown clearly that parents are reluctant to allow their children to walk or cycle to school because of traffic danger. We want to break this vicious circle, whereby children learn to become car-dependent from a very young age, and feel that a huge step could be taken towards greater road safety by cutting urban speed limits.

The present norm is 30mph in residential areas. A pedestrian or cyclist hit at that speed stands a 50/50 chance of living or dying. At 20mph that risk is cut to just 5%. Child casualty levels on British roads are very high compared to our European neighbours. A speed limit cut is desperately needed!

Currently, highway authorities have to apply for special dispensation to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) if they want to put in 20mph zones. Our campaign would aim to reverse that – the norm would be 20mph but applications could be made to DETR to raise the limit on appropriate roads. MCC sees huge benefits of a 20mph London, including safety, congestion, pollution, noise, personal liberties and others.