DRIVERS GUILTY OF speeding offences had to face a “Kids’ Court” and explain their actions.

The initiative in Northern Ireland seeks to impact drivers emotionally and encourage them to slow down.

It gives drivers caught speeding outside the school a choice – accept penalty points on their driving licence and pay a fine or attend Kids’ Court.

Those who take up the offer to attend Kids’ Court are brought into a school classroom to face a panel of young pupils.

Artigarvan Primary School Primary 7 pupils who were judges at the Kids' Court on Wednesday, 25 March. PSNI PSNI

Driver Arron Cooley who attended the court at Artigarvan Primary School on Wednesday told the BBC that he thinks the initiative is a good idea.

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 30mph speed limit as they entered the village of Artigarvan on Berryhill Road.

“We can all speed from time to time and it’s that lack of attention that can cause accidents,” said Cooley.

“I’ve got children myself so I’m normally always careful especially around schools.”

He said he has been driving 19 years with no points.

“I was rushing because I’m doing a renovation and I’ve got builders that need materials and it was literally for that.

“I’m not an angel by any means but I don’t normally speed around.”

Cooley said he learned to “have more due care and attention” on the roads.

Acting Principal of Artigarvan Primary School Rachel Kane said the event “has had a huge impact on the children”, as well as drivers.

“Hopefully, awareness will spread and people will slow down, take care and be patient to keep the children at our school safe,” she said.

So far this year, 19 people have been killed on the roads in Northern Ireland.

Speeding is classed as one of the “Fatal Five” – the main reasons people are dying in road traffic collisions.

Alderman Keith Kerrigan, Chair of Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership said road safety is a top priority for locals.

“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,” he said.

“Children have every right to feel safe in and around their school, and it is entirely unacceptable that speeding puts that safety at risk.”