Children marching in bid to raise awareness of need for safer roads

More than 4,000 children will walk the streets near their schools to raise awareness of the need for safer roads.

A total of 491 child road casualties were recorded in 2020 across Scotland, according to the latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures.

An average taken from the last five years gives a figure of 788, which means 15 children are killed or injured on the roads in the country every week, according to road safety charity Brake.

Those taking part in the march, aged 4-11, are among more than 90,000 pupils across the UK from more than 600 schools uniting for the national event on Wednesday.

The day was organised by Brake in partnership with insurance group esure and with support from Aardman.

Dubbed Brake’s Kids Walk, the event will see “Shaun the Sheep and his

“15 children are killed or injured on roads in the country every week

flock” help young people learn key road safety messages and call on grown-ups to make roads safer so more children can enjoy walking, riding or scooting to school.

Participants will take part in short, supervised walks at or around schools and nurseries, carrying banners and posters provided by Brake to help raise awareness of the five things the charity claims children need to help keep them safe near roads – footpaths, cycle paths, safe places to cross, slow traffic and clean traffic.

In Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh report the most child road casualties, with 115 and 80 casualties respectively each year on average, according to figures released by Brake.

The heavily populated regions of North and South Lanarkshire come next, reporting 62 and 51 casualties in an average year, followed by Fife, 51.

The lowest figures are in Scotland’s islands.

TfL data shows numbers of child road casualties have steadily declined in Scotland in recent years, but Brake claims several local authorities have still not reduced danger on their roads. The charity said Dundee, East Ayrshire and Stirling all saw a significant percentage increase – more than 50% – in child road casualties in 2020.