Who installs school safety signs and markings?

Birmingham City Council installs and maintains local signs, markings and traffic calming features near schools; requests are handled through the council highways/reporting service.

Who enforces speed limits near schools?

West Midlands Police enforces criminal moving traffic offences such as speeding; the council enforces civil parking and TRO restrictions where it has authority.

Can my school get a crossing patrol?

The council runs the School Crossing Patrol service and advertises posts and criteria on its website; contact the council to request consideration of a post.

How do I request a 20 mph limit outside my child’s school?

Requests are made to the council highways team and may proceed through a traffic regulation order and consultation; use the council report/request pages to start the process.

Birmingham School Safety Zones - Bylaws & Guards

Public Safety England 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

Birmingham, England requires local measures to protect children around schools, including signed speed limits, marked school safety zones and a School Crossing Patrol service. This guide explains what the city council controls, who enforces speed and parking rules, how to report hazards or request a zone, and the practical steps parents, schools and residents can take.

How local rules work

Many controls near schools are made by Birmingham City Council through traffic regulation orders and local highway works; enforcement of criminal offences such as illegal speeding is carried out by police. Local signs, road markings and physical measures (for example, 20 mph signs, road humps, and "School Keep Clear" markings) are installed and maintained by the council. For council guidance on traffic regulation and school crossing services see the council pages belowTraffic Regulation Orders^[1] and School Crossing Patrols^[2].

School Crossing Patrols assist children to cross but do not issue speeding fines.

Common local measures

Signed 20 mph limits adjacent to some schools and residential streets.
Painted "School Keep Clear" markings and yellow zig-zag lines to limit stopping at school entrances.
Physical calming features such as speed humps or raised tables where installed by the council.
School Crossing Patrol (lollipop) posts funded and run by the council where available.

Penalties & Enforcement

Responsibility for creating road signs and markings rests with Birmingham City Council; responsibility for prosecuting criminal offences such as speeding or dangerous driving rests with West Midlands Police and the courts. Specific monetary penalties for speeding and other moving traffic offences are set by national legislation and sentencing guidelines rather than by local bylaws, and exact amounts are not specified on the cited council pages belowTraffic Regulation Orders^[1] and School Crossing Patrols^[2]. If a council civil penalty exists for parking or moving traffic enforcement it will be listed on the relevant enforcement notice; the council pages do not give fixed fine figures for speed offences.

Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for speed offences; council parking penalties are published on enforcement pages (see Help and Support links).
Escalation: first/repeat/continuing offence treatment is not specified on the cited council pages for speed enforcement.
Non-monetary sanctions: orders, prosecutions, and court action are possible for serious or repeated offences; seizure and driving disqualification are set out under national law and not detailed on the cited council pages.
Enforcer: West Midlands Police handles criminal enforcement; the council enforces parking and traffic regulation orders where it has civil enforcement powers.
Inspection and complaints: report highway safety, markings or a missing crossing patrol via the council report serviceReport a problem on the road^[3].
Appeals/review: appeal routes depend on the enforcement type; instructions and time limits are given on the enforcement or penalty notice issued—time limits are not specified on the cited pages.
Defences/discretion: defences such as "reasonable excuse" or authorised exemptions are determined under national road law or specific TRO exemptions and are not itemised on the cited council pages.

If you receive a notice, the notice itself will state the appeal process and deadlines.

Applications & Forms

The council publishes application routes for traffic regulation orders, requests for 20 mph schemes and vacancy details for crossing patrol posts on its site; specific form names, fees or application codes are not consistently published on the general guidance pages cited above and may vary by scheme. To request a new measure or apply for a crossing patrol vacancy, use the council request pages or contact the highways team via the report service cited aboveReport a problem on the road^[3].

Common violations and typical outcomes

Speeding in a school zone — outcome: police enforcement, fixed penalty or prosecution; exact fines not specified on the council pages.
Stopping in zig-zag or keep-clear areas — outcome: parking penalty or local enforcement action published on council enforcement pages.
Obstructing a crossing patrol — outcome: reported to council or police; disciplinary or legal action if an offence is committed.

Always follow instructions from a school crossing patrol officer for child safety.

FAQ

Who installs school safety signs and markings?: Birmingham City Council installs and maintains local signs, markings and traffic calming features near schools; requests are handled through the council highways/reporting service.
Who enforces speed limits near schools?: West Midlands Police enforces criminal moving traffic offences such as speeding; the council enforces civil parking and TRO restrictions where it has authority.
Can my school get a crossing patrol?: The council runs the School Crossing Patrol service and advertises posts and criteria on its website; contact the council to request consideration of a post.
How do I request a 20 mph limit outside my child’s school?: Requests are made to the council highways team and may proceed through a traffic regulation order and consultation; use the council report/request pages to start the process.

How-To

Identify the problem location and note times and vehicle details if relevant.
Report the safety concern to Birmingham City Council using the online road report form or highways contact page.
If the issue is suspected criminal behaviour (dangerous driving or repeated speeding), report to West Midlands Police with evidence and times.
Request a formal assessment for a 20 mph limit or crossing patrol from the council; follow any consultation instructions provided by the highways team.
If you receive an enforcement notice and wish to appeal, follow the appeal details on the notice and contact the issuing authority within the stated timeframe.

Gather photos and precise location details before you submit a report to speed decision-making.

Key Takeaways

Birmingham Council makes local traffic orders and installs safety features.
West Midlands Police enforces speeding; fines and sanctions derive from national law.
Use the council report service to request measures or report missing/unsafe markings.