Communities are campaigning for motorists to reduce their speed

The demonstrations were held as part of a National Day of Action on traffic speed organised by the environmental pressure group Transport 2000.

Julia Sampson, the group's streets for people co-ordinator, said: "People are sick of motorists speeding by their homes and schools, putting the lives of their children, friends and relations at risk.

"This day gives communities the opportunity to fight back and let motorists know that speeding will not be tolerated."

Lives at risk

In Leeds, friends and family of pupils at Brackenedge Primary School staged a protest at a zebra crossing near Potternewton Park, where they say cars are travelling too fast and putting children's lives at risk.

There have been several minor collisions and near misses at the crossing and some residents feel it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.

Phillip Igoe, who lives near the crossing, said speeding costs money, damages the environment and increases the risks to all road users.

"Rushing just to save five minutes might one day cost a child's life," he said. "It's not worth it."

In Bradford, students used dummy speed cameras to get drivers to slow down and organised groups of pedestrians and cyclists to remind motorists that they all share the roads.

Training courses

Meanwhile, West Yorkshire's Casualty Reduction Partnership is looking into ways of setting up training courses for offending motorists.

Spokesman Phillip Gwynn told BBC Radio Leeds he thought the courses would be "very favourably received".