Burstow supports Road Safety Week campaign to save children's lives on the road

1.30.40pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 5th Nov 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, is backing Road Safety Week by supporting urgent action to stop child death and injury on foot and bike in London and the South East. Mr Burstow 's call comes following the publication of a shocking report by Road Safety Charity Brake , which reveals that:

· Six in ten children (59%) in London and the South-east feel plagued by fast traffic in their community;

· Six in ten (59%) feel that even the roads around their schools are dangerous;

· And more than a third (36%) know someone who's been knocked down.

· Their views are backed up by their teachers: eight in ten (79%) said there were dangerous roads near their schools.

The survey is 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, 443 children aged under 16 were killed or seriously injured while walking or cycling on roads in London and the South East - that's nine every week.[1] 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.[2] 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.

Commenting, Paul Burstow said:

"Fast traffic blights children's lives and kills. These shocking figures paint a disturbing picture - we need more government investment in 20mph safety zones around schools and homes, comprehensive enforcement of these zones, and all drivers to understand that it is unacceptable to drive fast in these areas."

Paul Burstow 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

Notes

[1] Department for Transport statistics (obtained by Brake in 2007) for pedestrian and cyclist casualties among under-16s in 2006.

[2] Statistics from combining GB figures in Road Casualties Great Britain 2006 (Department for Transport, 2007) and figures obtained by Brake from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (2007)

Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (5 - 11 November 2007). Brake's Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers. BrakeCare, Brake's support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.