Road Safety –
Do you know
the real facts?
Additional supporting material can be found at
www.schoolmagic.co.uk
Whether it's….
• having fun with your mates,
• chatting on your mobile phone,
• listening to music,
• or just thinking about something.
It’s easy to forget about keeping
yourself safe, especially on the
roads.
Did you know?
•
Traffic is the biggest single cause of accidental death for 7 - 16 year olds.
•
Six out of ten youngsters reported that they have either been in an accident
/ near miss or know someone at school who had been.
•
62% of young people admit to being distracted by talking to friends as they
cross the road.
•
It only takes a second to become one of the 22,000 young people injured on
our roads every year.
Out and about – Are you distracted when crossing
the road?
•Children should be aware that when they are out and about as a pedestrian,
they should think about what they are doing when they reach the kerb.
•Distractions such as using personal stereos, chatting on the mobile and texting
while crossing the road are a big danger.
• 36% of girls and 25% of boys say they get distracted crossing the road by
using their mobiles.
•The Government has set a target to reduce the number of children killed or
seriously injured on the road by 50% by 2010, compared to the average number
from 1994–1998
The bigger picture
•In 2008, 73 children aged 0–11 years were killed on Britain’s roads. Another 1,436
were seriously injured.
•In 2008 a Transport Research Laboratory survey showed that 6% of 5–9 year olds
were not restrained at all whilst travelling in the rear of cars.
•Most children under 9 can't judge how fast vehicles are going or how far away they
are.
•68% of children aged 0–11 killed or seriously injured in 2008 were on foot at the
time.
•In comparison with other countries, Britain’s overall road safety record for children
is on the whole very good, and its rate for child fatalities is well below the European
average. But our record on child pedestrian fatalities remains worse than many
other European countries, though improving rapidly.
Real people, real numbers
Deaths and injuries on the road
•3,508 people were killed in road accidents in 2003
•33,707 were seriously injured
•253,392 were slightly injured
Children
•171 children were killed in road accidents in 2003
•3,929 were seriously injured
•More than twice as many boys as girls are killed or seriously injured in
pedestrian and cycle accidents.
Cyclists
•114 pedal cyclists were killed in road accidents in 2003
•2,297 were seriously injured
Dos and don’ts for cyclists
– Be visible. Ride well clear of
the kerb, wear bright clothing
and always use lights after
dark or in poor weather
conditions.
– Show drivers what you plan to
do. Always look and signal
before you start, stop or turn.
– Ride a straight line past
parked cars rather than
dodging between them.
– Don't jump red lights.
– Don't ride on pavements.
– Don't ride the wrong way up
one-way streets, unless
there's a sign saying cyclists
can.
Finally…
Sharing the road
•The biggest road user group are motorists.
•You should always be aware of other road users particular motorists when
using the roads.
•Remember in any accident involving a pedestrian or cycle the motorist is
ALWAYS going to come off best.
Remember
•An adult should walk with you until you are comfortable that you have
identified the best places to walk, cross and where to look out for blind
spots.
•It's also worth remembering that if the traffic can't see you, it may be too
late by the time they do.
•When buying coats, especially in winter when the nights draw in, make
sure it is a light colour. You can also add reflected products to add to your
visibility.