Introducing 20mph zones around schools, residential streets and villages is seen by many as a must when it comes to bringing down accidents.

Driving at slower speeds, particularly around schools, gives motorists more time to think and react to circumstances which arise while they are out on the road.

Nearly 80 per cent of people think 20mph should be the norm around schools, in residential streets and in village, town and city centres, according to a survey by the road safety charity, Brake, and Allianz Insurance.

More than four in five of those surveyed think traffic is too fast on local roads.

As part of its GO 20 campaign, Brake is now calling on MPs to support the introduction of 20mph as the default urban speed limit. According to the charity, areas where 20mph limits have been introduced have seen casualty rates fall.

Driving instructor, Chris Smith, of Bradford-based Driving Mode driving school, welcomed the recommendations, saying he would like to see the speed reduced even further, to 10mph, on side roads and especially outside schools.

Chris claims a recent speed canvassing exercise outside one local school revealed some motorists were travelling at 40mph in a 30mph area, and he would like to see a 20mph limit introduced in those areas.

“I think it is a brilliant idea,” says Chris, who already encourages his pupils to travel at 20mph in certain areas of the district.

Reg Cranage, chairman of Ilkley and District Road Safety Committee, says he agrees with 20mph zones in certain areas.

“I agree with it as it is kept within required limits. Where you have a primary road going through a town or village you can’t really expect that to be brought back to 20mph. That causes traffic pile-ups and pollution,” says Reg. “It has got to be used discretionally.”

However, he believes the 20mph zone should be introduced around schools.

Carole Whittingham, founder of Brighouse-based SCARD (Support and Care after Death and Road Injury) says: “It is high time we started slowing down traffic in residential areas and obviously outside schools.”

Carole says motorists speeding past schools coupled with the parking issues many local schools face is an accident waiting to happen.

“Cars parked both sides of the road, some partly on the pavement, some partly on the road and you’ve got another vehicle coming down at 50 or 60mph – it is a tragedy waiting to happen,” says Carole.

“We are very happy with 20mph in heavy residential areas and outside every school, no matter if it is an infants, junior or senior school.”

A spokesman for Bradford Council says: “A significant number of 20mph zones and speed limits have been introduced across the Bradford district in recent years at a variety of sites including residential areas, outside schools and in district centres.

“The safety of all road users, particularly children, continues to be of paramount importance, however evidence shows that areas in the vicinity of schools are generally relatively safe from a highways perspective.

“Our on-going programme of 20mph zones has yet to be approved by Area Committees.”

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, says: “The GO 20 campaign is about defending everyone’s right to walk and cycle freely without being endangered, whether it’s to get to work, school, the shops, or just getting out and being active.

“We need to tackle the senseless and violent casualties that continue to happen daily on our roads, and we need to enable people to live healthy, active, social lives. It’s clear that 20mph limits in communities can help bring this about – and it’s clear this is what people want.”

Allianz Insurance chief executive, Jon Dye, says: “Public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of reducing the urban speed limit to 20mph and this should act as a powerful force for change.”

A Department for Transport spokesman says: “Setting speed limits on local roads is a matter for local authorities, but this Government has published new guidance to make it easier for councils to introduce 20mph zones.

“Research shows that having 20mph limits on certain roads can save lives and we must do all we can to prevent road casualties.”