MOTORISTS may face 20mph speed limits near schools in a bid to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured on Bromsgrove roads.

"Twenty is plenty" is the theme of a road safety initiative being championed by county councillor Trevor Porter (Lab-Bromsgrove West).

His campaign follows a critical report by the Audit Commission, which is unhappy at the comparative performance of Worcestershire when it comes to the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads in the county.

The problem was highlighted by the Advertiser/Messenger recently in a story about 14-year-old Craig Wright, who was seriously injured last year crossing Charford Road on his way home from school.

Cllr Porter has put the spotlight on Charford Road where there are three schools within a short distance of each other.

"I have long advocated a programme of measures to introduce 20mph speed limits on roads in the vicinity of schools throughout Worcestershire, with a campaign of awareness for motorists entitled 'twenty is plenty,'" he said.

"The effect of a collision of a vehicle with a child is markedly different at 20mph than at 30mph, yet many motorists are speeding by in excess of 30mph.

"There should be flashing lights to warn motorists that the limits are in force at the start and end of the school day which should be in the control of the school management and enforced by speed cameras."

District Councillor Sean Shannon (Lab-Charford), who has been helping the Wright family since Craig had his accident, said the 20mph restriction has been introduced in Redditch and Worcester and he wanted to see it in Bromsgrove

A county council spokesman said the idea of 20mph limits near schools was one of a number of measures being considered by road chiefs in response to the Audit Commission's report.