Campaign to cut child road deaths
EMMA CURRY
ANEW campaign aims to highlight the common causes of road accidents involving children in Lancashire, in a bid to cut the number of deaths and injuries on the county’s roads.
About 65 child pedestrians are killed or seriously injured across Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool every year.
The campaign, being run by the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, will provide information and advice to parents and carers so they can show children how to stay safe when out and about.
Accidents are commonly caused when a child steps out into the road, so the campaign will encourage adults to set a good example to children by always crossing the road safely themselves.
It will also ask drivers to play their part by anticipating that children can behave unpredictably and give themselves time to watch out for children and stop if necessary.
Other common factors include adults losing control of younger children while crossing the road, parked cars which reduce visibility, and children becoming distracted before a collision.
Parents and carers are being asked to look at resources available on the partnership’s website to help them understand what they can do to make a difference.
The campaign will be supported by roadside banners and signs, as well as targeted messages on social media.
County councillor Keith Iddon, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We are all responsible for each other’s safety on the roads and the number of child pedestrians being killed or injured every year in Lancashire is something we should not accept.
“We teach children about road safety through schools, however we’re also encouraging everyone who has responsibility for young people to do their bit and help to reinforce that message.
“There are also practical things that parents and carers can do such as planning regular journeys such as safe routes to school.
“There are certain times in a child’s development when their risk of being involved in a collision as a pedestrian increases.
“One key time is when children are around age six, when they become very mobile for the first time, with the potential they could run into the road while playing or stray from parents or carers when crossing the road.
“The other is when children begin secondary school and gain a bit more independence, walking alone or in groups over longer distances, when they may be prone to distraction.
“We’re also asking drivers to help by taking more care when travelling through areas where children may be out playing, and being aware that many incidents happen at the start and end of the day as children travel between home and school.”
Visit the partnership’s website safe2travel.co.uk/ lookout.