Durham parents of crash victim say drivers need to take more responsibility
It comes as new research shows nearly three in four of us want safer zebra crossings
A Durham Mam and Dad, whose son was killed on a zebra crossing, say drivers need to take more responsibility for pedestrians.
New research shows that nearly three in four of us think new technology is needed to make crossings safer, but John Thompson, whose son Jake was killed by a lorry at a crossing in 2014, says they're made safer by prosecuting drivers.
John said:
"I think enforcement is essential - people are being hit and if there were cameras and proper regulations of the traffic laws and standards, that would reduce.
"I think the onus is on the driver because pedestrians don't harm anybody - it's the drivers and the cars that can do the damage."
Only 19% of UK adults can correctly answer what the law is when it comes to crossing at a zebra crossing. 72% agree that the crossings need to be updated with new technology.
New research, released today by Direct Line, has revealed that a quarter of UK adults think that zebra crossings are useful but could be improved.
Nearly two in five Brits, stated that in the last 12 months a car has failed to stop when they were approaching a zebra crossing and just under a fifth, have had a near miss at a zebra crossing.
There is also a lack of understanding among both pedestrians and drivers when it comes to the rules of zebra crossings- with nearly half of those surveyed stating that the point at which a car needs to stop is when the pedestrian is waiting at the crossing.
Less than 20% knew the correct answer that it is only once the pedestrian has stepped onto the crossing that the car must legally stop. Although three in five UK adults say they learned about road safety from their parents and nearly half from the Highway Code. 6% admitted they have never learned about road safety and 79% still do not think enough is being done in schools and colleges to teach people about road safety.