Thousands of schoolkids march for better road safety
The road safety charity Brake found 1,988 children were killed or injured on North West roads
Last updated 13th Jun 2018
Ten thousand kids across the North West are marching for safer roads, after it was revealed five children from the region are killed or injured in traffic incidents every day.
The road safety charity Brake, is calling on drivers to think about their speed, especially near to schools.
The Brake Kids Walk saw 100,000 children across the UK carry out a short, supervised walk near to schools and nurseries. Children walked in 'crocodile' formation and held hands to highlight the importance of being able to walk without fear or threat from traffic.
Dozens of schoolchildren at Cale Green Primary in Stockport has taken part today:
More than 50 schools and nurseries from across the region are uniting with Brake's Kids Walk, calling for five measures to help keep them safe: footpaths, cycle paths, safe places to cross, slow traffic and clean traffic.
Brake found 107 children died as a result of traffic accidents in Greater Manchester in 2016.
While Stockport and Bury had the lowest number of deaths and injuries in the North West for the same time period, the charity Brake said there was still a long way to go before young people were safe walking to school.
Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “It is every child's right to be able to walk in their community without fear of traffic and pollution. But many kids are unable to do so because they don’t have access to simple measures such as footpaths, cycle paths and safe places to cross. Many more have to contend with fast traffic and pollution from vehicle emissions. If we want more children and their families to walk in the North West, then we need to make sure their journeys are safe. We’re delighted that so many schools and children across the region agree with us on this and are taking part in Brake’s Kids Walk. Together we can raise awareness about the issues that matter to them and help make their roads safer.”
Sarah Collins, senior road safety officer at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “It is our aim for children to be able to walk and cycle in safety. They need the freedom to use the roads for their social development and exercise for their general health and fitness. Our team is busy working on the 20mph schemes; we want to make it safer for everyone to make healthy travel choices, and encourage people to become responsible road users.”