Speeding drivers face ‘Kids' Court’ over fines and penalty points

Motorists caught speeding outside primary schools in Northern Ireland have been given the choice of accepting penalty points and a fine, or facing a special court where the judges are children.

The ‘Kids’ Court’ road safety initiative was set up in 2017 and is aimed at changing driver behaviour. Drivers caught speeding outside the school, have a choice to make – accept penalty points on their driving licence and pay a fine, or attend Kids’ Court.

If eligible, and they take up the offer to attend Kids’ Court, drivers are brought into a school classroom to face a panel of young pupils.

Kids' Courts have been held across Northern Ireland since mid-March and, on Wednesday, March 25, it was in session at Artigarvan Primary School.

In front of a panel of Primary 7 pupils, in the space of roughly half an hour, nine drivers had to explain why they had broken the 30 mph speed limit as they entered the village of Artigarvan on Berryhill Road.

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Paying tribute to the pupils and staff at Artigarvan PS, and all other schools for holding Kids’ Court, Superintendent John Wilson says the initiative is about trying to change drivers' behaviour.

"As part of our commitment to road safety, we are continually working with schools throughout Northern Ireland to educate pupils about road safety and raise awareness," says Superintendent Wilson. "Through this initiative, now the pupils are educating drivers who speed outside their school about the potential consequences of speeding which is one of the Fatal Five, the main reasons people are dying on our roads, and why they must slow down.

“To date to this, in Northern Ireland 19 people have died on our roads, which is devastating. It's about making our roads safer for everyone who uses them - children and adults and whether they are pedestrians, cyclists or motorists.

"Having drivers come into the school, meeting pupils face-to-face asking uncomfortable questions, personalises the message about road safety. It brings it home in a very powerful way that drivers must slow down, drive appropriate to the road conditions and never exceed the posted speed limit.

"Doing this can help save lives and our aim through Kids' Court is to change the mind set and attitudes about speeding. Speeding is not a low level crime. It's dangerous because with speed there are no second chances and lives can be lost. ”

Acting Principal of Artigarvan Primary School Rachel Kane believes the road safety initiative will make a difference.

"This event has had a huge impact on the children," said Principal Kane. "We also saw the impact it had on the drivers, emotionally. Hopefully, awareness will spread and people will slow down, take care and be patient to keep the children at our school safe."

Artigarvan PS Board of Governors member Ethna Wiley says speeding is an issue in the area. Speaking after watching the Kids' Court was in session, she said: "Our school is situated on a very busy road, and speeding is an issue, as we saw from the people who attended Kids' Court today.

(Back row) Aileen Murphy, Derry and Strabane PCSP, Strabane Neighbourhood Constable John McAuley, Superintendent John Wilson, Ethna Wiley, Artigarvan PS Board of Governors; Constable Cassells and Constable Lorraine Bull pictured with the Judges at the Kids’ Court they held in their school.  

"It's about the safety of the children and, if it makes people slow down passing our school, it is well worth it," said Ethna. "It really brings it home that the children are aware of the speed limit outside the school and what that means and, hopefully, when they are drivers themselves they'll adhere to the speed limit too. "

Chair of Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership Alderman Keith Kerrigan said: "Speeding outside schools is something our communities feel very strongly about, and the Kids' Court event at Artigarvan Primary School brought that message home in a really powerful way.

"When a driver has to sit before a panel of children and explain why they were speeding past their school gates, it creates an impact that no fixed penalty notice ever could. Children have every right to feel safe in and around their school, and it is entirely unacceptable that speeding puts that safety at risk.

"Road safety has consistently been raised as a top priority by residents across Derry and Strabane, and initiatives like the Kids' Court show we are committed to tackling this issue in creative and effective ways. I want to thank all the pupils involved for their courage and their questions - they were a credit to their school - and I would encourage every driver to reflect on their behaviour behind the wheel, particularly near schools and in residential areas."