Road traffic scares children

Road traffic scares children

Road traffic scares children

Nearly 70 per cent of children avoid walking or cycling because they fear fast traffic, road safety group Brake revealed today.

In a survey of more than 10,000 children between the ages of five and 14, 43 per cent also said they had been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and 52 per cent admitted they feared for their safety on Britain’s roads.

The figures were released to coincide with the start of National Road Safety Week, which aims to promote change and encourage children to become more active.

Brake, which is co-ordinating the week, is calling for the introduction of 20mph zones in all communities and for more pavements, cycle paths, pedestrian crossings and compulsory road safety education from pre-school to high school age.

Last year over 100 children under the age of 16 were killed while walking or cycling.