People living in fear of dangerous drivers are split over how to improve road safety in an area they say is “horrendous”. 

A petition signed by the majority of people in Pollard Road, Whetstone calls for a 20 mile per hour zone to be introduced in the street.

But neighbours are divided over whether this will fix the problem.

Holly McEwan, 23, a management consultant who lives in the road, is unsure whether a 20mph zone would improve matters.

She said: “People come speeding down here, and if you try to get your car out the drive, it’s really difficult. People get angry when you slow down and it’s really noisy at night.”

“I don’t think a 20mph zone will sort it, as it will still be the same. People will still use the road as a cut through.”

Grace Holmes, 48, said: “We are all campaigning because it’s so dangerous. There’s always been a problem with speed on this road, and it’s at night you notice it.

“I think 20mph is worth a shot, but I think really you need the entrance narrowed. There are lots of little kids on the road.”

Edel McStravick, 35, lives in the road with her three children. Her husband, Conor, helped launch the petition with neighbour Hans Van de Koot.

She said: “Traffic is really busy, and the speed of it is the issue. Cars go flying up the road at 50mph. The signs are completely ignored.”

Mrs McStravick said she found it dangerous crossing the road with her buggy, and thinks reducing the speed would help.

She said: “There are three schools nearby, so you see a lot of people with families and children walking around. The main issue is the high volume. We need to get the speed reduced. The petition has been signed by the majority of the people in the road. Everybody has been really behind it.”

Sheila Thomas, 49, said: “We have got fantastic support from nearly every house in the street, because it’s clearly a problem. People knock my mirror off quite regularly by speeding.

“I’ve lived here for 14 years, and it’s always been an issue. I would hope reducing the speed would help. There have been quite a few accidents over the years. I hope it will be taken seriously.”

“It’s loud and fast at night. You wouldn’t have a chance if you stepped out at night. We have had overwhelming support from most people in the street.”

Margaret Holbrogh, 59, has lived in the street for 21 years.

She said: “It’s pretty dangerous down here, people come whizzing round the bend so you get the noise and you get the danger. We had a campaign eight or nine years ago but it came to nothing.”

Mrs Holbrogh, a careers adviser, added: “Reducing the speed might make people think twice.”

A spokesman for Barnet Borough Council said: “We have previously engaged with residents and ward councillors regarding traffic management concerns regarding the best approach on Pollard Road, but up to now no consensus has been reached.

“We have now completed a traffic survey for Pollard Road and feasibility options including a 20mph zone are currently being considered. These options are anticipated to be reported back to the Area Committee in due course.”