Staffordshire mum fights to make roads around schools safer after her daughter was killed

A Staffordshire mum whose little girl was killed outside her school gates says she'll now fight to make all roads safer so no other family goes through the same devastation.

3 years ago; 1st April 2022 Alia Anum's 5-year-old daughter Minaal was knocked down by an uninsured delivery driver after leaving a school club at Newstead Primary Academy in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.

It happened as her father and Minaal were standing outside the pedestrian school gate on Waterside Drive, waiting to cross. She passed away at the scene.

Alia told us: "The grief, it exhausts me. It may be 3 years but it's still so fresh and so raw, like sometimes when I see her empty bed. It's so painful.

"You are very lucky if don't know what it's like to lose a child. It doesn't matter if it's 3 years or 13 years - the pain is unexplainable and never decreases."

A call for zebra crossings outside all schools

"There should be a marked crossing in front of every primary school in England, because we are teaching them the basics of life." said Alia.

"If there's no zebra crossing or no marked crossing infront of their school, what they'll learn is that they can cross the road from anywhere from infront of their school until they turn 10 or 11.

"Primary children, we can't call them responsible, becuase they're distracted and if they see a parent or friend they get excited. A crossing and a camera would make them safer.

"There should also be more road signs, more speed limits, so it should be 20 around the school and park areas. There should also be more strict punishments, put cameras outside the schools.

"I think it's very important there should be a crossing outside every school. Children are so vulnerable on the roads and, electric cars, it's very difficult to hear them.

"I used to be a very strong person but this grief has hit me hard.

"I have hope and I will make her proud. I want to make her proud and do positive things in her memory. It makes me feel better. I now have so many plans."

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