Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth Sutton, is joining Road Safety Week calls by Brake, the road safety charity, for urgent action to stop child death and injury on foot and bike on South West roads. 

Linda Gilroy MP is highlighting the release of a shocking survey, published by Brake, the road safety charity, which reveals that: six in ten children (60%) in the South West feel plagued by fast traffic in their community; more than half (55%) feel that even the roads around their schools are dangerous; and almost a third (31%) know someone who’s been knocked down. Their views are backed up by their teachers: almost nine in ten (88%) said there were dangerous roads near their schools. 

The survey is released today as part of National Road Safety Week – co-ordinated by road safety charity Brake and supported by 3M, Direct Line and Green Flag Motoring Assistance.  

Government statistics uncovered by Brake reveal the appalling extent of deaths and injuries among the regions children on foot and bike. In 2006, 137 children aged under 16 were killed or seriously injured while walking or cycling on South West roads - that’s three every week. Across the UK, child road deaths rose sharply between 2005 and 2006, after falling steadily over the past decade. Child pedestrian deaths rose from 69 in 2005 to 75 in 2006, while child cyclist deaths rose from 23 to 31 and total child road deaths (on foot, bicycle and in vehicles) rose from 156 to 178 (a 14% increase) in the same period. Brake believes these shocking figures should act as a wake up call for Government and that every child death on roads is one too many. 

While progress has been made in reducing child deaths in the past decade, Brake believes these shocking figures should act as a wake-up call for Government and that every child death on roads is one too many.  

Linda Gilroy MP says: “These figures just go to show that we cannot afford to get complacent over road safety. I fully support Brake in their efforts to bring this issue to the Government’s attention”.  

Cathy Keeler, head of campaigns at Brake, says: “Fast traffic blights children’s lives and kills. In a civilised society it is a disgrace that we allow children to die on roads. Every death is horrific and devastating. TV campaigns and central government guidance to local authorities to introduce child safety measures are not enough. We need more Government investment in 20mph safety zones around schools and homes in all communities, comprehensive enforcement of these zones, and all drivers to understand that it is simply shameful to drive any faster in these areas. This will stop deaths and transform communities.”   Linda Gilroy MP is calling for the following measures to protect local children: 

• More 20mph zones around schools and homes to give children the best chance of survival on roads in their communities
• Road safety education in all schools to ensure children are aware of the dangers they face and know how to minimise risks
• Challenging Government road casualty reduction targets for child deaths, as well as child deaths and serious injuries combined 

7 November 2007