Speeding motorists face the '˜kids court' at McKinney Primary

Drivers caught exceeding the 30mph limit outside McKinney Primary School, were faced with the tough choice of accepting a fine or facing a '˜Kids Court'.

Speeding motorists were grilled by a panel of children in ‘Kids Court’, who asked why they were speeding and if they were aware they could have hit a child.

The ‘judges’ were pupils at McKinney Primary School in Dundrod, and drivers who exceeded the 30mph limit during one day were given the chance to explain to the children why they were speeding – the alternative was receiving a penalty points and fine. As well as being asked why they were speeding they were also asked a number of questions about road safety.

Mr Andy Nye, Principal of McKinney Primary School, said: “Our location on the busy road outside the school makes our pupils and parents vulnerable when dropping off or collecting pupils or when walking to and from school. Road Safety is continually promoted throughout the school. However, the Kids Court initiative allows us to be proactive and highlight to drivers the vulnerability of our children aged 3-11 years. If we manage to change the mind set of even a few drivers, the initiative will have been effective and our pupils much safer.”

Sgt Sarah O`Neill, Road Policing, Const Jacky McDowell Road Education Officer, Cllr Brian Hanvey, Chairman Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP, Mr Andy Nye, Acting Principal McKinney PS and Const John Gillen, Road Policing with pupils from McKinney Primary SchoolSgt Sarah O`Neill, Road Policing, Const Jacky McDowell Road Education Officer, Cllr Brian Hanvey, Chairman Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP, Mr Andy Nye, Acting Principal McKinney PS and Const John Gillen, Road Policing with pupils from McKinney Primary School
Sgt Sarah O`Neill, Road Policing, Const Jacky McDowell Road Education Officer, Cllr Brian Hanvey, Chairman Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP, Mr Andy Nye, Acting Principal McKinney PS and Const John Gillen, Road Policing with pupils from McKinney Primary School

Councillor Brian Hanvey, Chairman of Lisburn and Castlereagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) said: “I congratulate McKinney Primary School for taking this initiative to address the important subject of road safety and working closely with the PSNI in changing driver attitudes.”

Const. Jacky McDowell added: “Police have been working alongside teachers and staff of the school in order to educate the pupils in road safety. “This isn’t about trying to catch people out – it’s about making our roads safer for all who use them, whether they are children or adults and whether they are pedestrians, cyclists or motorists.”