Parents call for 20mph zones around schools after thousands of children injured
Figures from the charity Brake reveal how many 4-11 year-olds were injured - with speeding one of the main factors
Brake, the road safety charity, is calling for measures to end speeding traffic around all schools in the UK, as parents report roads aren’t safe for their children to walk or wheel to school.
The latest Department for Transport figures show that 6,075 children, aged 4-11, were harmed on UK roads in 2022.
On average that means 16 primary schoolchildren are harmed as a result of road crashes every single day.
In 2022, 16 children aged 4-11 died on UK roads and a further 1,113 were seriously injured.
According to new research published by Brake, more than three-quarters (78%) of parents and carers surveyed would like roads near their home and children’s schools to have a speed limit of 20mph.
In addition, 85% of those surveyed said they would like to see Government doing more to make roads safer in their community.
Of the 2,000 parents and carers of primary schoolchildren surveyed, more than two-thirds (69%) would like their children to walk or wheel to school more often, but many say they can’t because the roads are too busy (39%) and the traffic moves too fast (24%).
Today (Wednesday 19 June 2024), 80,000 children (aged 4–11) from more than 720 schools and youth groups are taking part in Brake's Kids Walk to shout out for their right to make safe and healthy journeys without fear or threat from traffic.
Lucy Straker, campaigns manager at Brake, said: “We all want children to be able to travel to and from school safely. But sadly, every day, more than 16 primary schoolchildren are harmed on our roads. We know that excess speed is a factor in about a quarter of fatal crashes – and the physics is pretty straightforward: the faster a vehicle is travelling, the harder it hits and the greater the impact.
“Evidence shows us that by lowering the speed limits and reducing the number of vehicles on our roads, we also reduce the risk of people being harmed. This new research from Brake also shows us that people want 20mph speed limits around their homes and their children’s schools.
“So, we call on the future leaders of our country to prioritise safety on roads across our communities, by implementing 20mph as the default speed limit on roads in residential and built-up areas. We must keep our children safe!”
In Wales, 20mph speed limits became the default for roads in built-up areas in September 2023. Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates, said: “We're proud of our track record on supporting safe routes to and from school. Lower speeds means safer streets for families to walk and cycle.”
David McMillan, CEO of esure, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Brake’s Kids Walk for the fourth year running and to raise awareness of the importance of safer roads and cleaner air for schoolchildren across the UK.”