Hi I’m Kim. I’m a dog walker who regularly walks dogs in  Highgate (and occasionally) Queen’s Woods.  This often involves walking along the narrow pavement on Wood Lane and along Queen’s Wood Road with one or two dogs, some of whom live on that street.

Cars often zoom past me, speeding along that street, which is so dangerous. There is a speed limit of 20mph on the road, which frequently doesn’t seem to be adhered to. A number of the residents have told me that their road is notorious for speeding. One of my clients last year tragically had their dog killed by a speeding car on Queen’s Wood Road while out with them, and another recently had their dog hit by a car on the same stretch of road one night.  

Queen’s Wood Road, which becomes Wood Lane, runs through the middle of Queen's Wood, so there are many people who go there to walk their dogs, or families with children visit. There are also weekday excursions there by groups of small schoolchildren. All of whom may need to cross the road, or at least walk on the pavements, which are narrow in parts.

As it is a road that runs between two areas of woodland, drivers need to be especially careful of dogs or children who may unexpectedly stray between the two, and not all drivers do this. The two areas of woodland are completely open to the street along Queen’s Wood Road, with no fencing or barriers. When walking dogs in Queen’s Wood, I only take them off lead when well into the heart of the wood, but I have seen dogs running off lead near the edge, almost along the pavement in the past. Dogs can get lost chasing squirrels or foxes, or panic and run away from something that scares them.

Wood Lane is very narrow, as is the pavement, and I have more than once seen a side mirror on the ground where a driver has knocked it off their car against one of the widely spaces bollards lining the road, which must have been at some speed and force. I have also seen parts of gate-posts lying on the ground, that have been knocked off by passing cars. The pavement is wide enough to walk two dogs safely, but not if cars - particularly ones that are being driven carelessly or at excessive speed - encroach it.

Cars driving at dangerous and reckless speeds along this road are putting not only adults, but children and dogs at risk. Some measure of slowing traffic and making drivers more accountable needs to be put in place, whether it be traffic cameras, speed cushions, or both. Yes, pedestrians need to take due care and responsibility (for themselves and any children or dogs with them), but motorists ned to as well, and speeding or otherwise driving recklessly does not demonstrate that  

Please sign this petition before there are any more tragic and avoidable incidents. Please also share this with anyone you think would be interested and want to help.

Thank you.very much.

Kim