20mph: Concerns raised over dragon signs outside schools

The signs were designed by a schoolboy who won £250 in a competition to design the signage. 

They are placed outside of schools - show the home nation's national icon twisted into a 20 and mounted on the background of a standard limit post. 

Concerns have been raised by some motorists about the signs, labelling it confusing and unclear.

Jon Wilkins, a partner at Reeds Solicitors in Cardiff, said: "The speeding signs are difficult to understand at first glance and are confusing for the motorist. Any speed limit sign must be clear to understand and unambiguous in displaying the speed limit.

"Speed limit signs must be in accordance with specific designs prescribed in law. Any sign which is not in accordance with the regulations and the applicable road traffic law would potentially allow a speeding motorist a legal argument that the speeding signate was not clear. This could hinder prosecuting speeding motorists and enforcing the speed limit."

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He added: "Given that motorists already face the confusion of whether a particular stretch of road is now a default 20mph zone in Wales, Dragon themed signs outside our schools have the real potential to compromise the safety of Welsh Schoolchildren in adding to this confusion.”

Some motorists have taken to social media to raise concerns about the signs. One person said: "I think it's dangerous as it isn't immediately obvious what it is saying so you need to really look at it. Just what you need around schools.

The Welsh Government guidance reads: "It has been decided that to continue highlighting the presence of schools and/or their proximity to a traffic calmed area, a new supplementary associated plate will be introduced.

"A child’s drawing has been selected in a competition organised with the help of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and this will be available for traffic authorities to use if they so wish."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "It is for local highway authorities to determine whether the use of this particular sign is appropriate.

"It is not designed as an alternative to formal speed limit signs and the use of it is a matter for councils.”