Why teach road safety?
There has been a reduction in deaths and serious injuries on our roads over the years and in 2009 the number of deaths was the lowest on record. However there is a need to reduce deaths and injuries even further.
The following statistics give a broad picture:
- In 2010, 36 children aged 0-11 years were killed on Britain’s roads. Another 1,387 were seriously injured.
- Of the above, 8 deaths and 306 serious injuries were in the 3-5 year old age bracket.
- Almost 76% of children aged 3-5 killed or seriously injured in 2010 were on foot at the time.
- Most children under 9 can't judge how fast vehicles are going or how far away they are.
- 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. While our record on child pedestrian fatalities is improving, it does not compare so well with many other European countries.
Parents are often uncertain about where the responsibility for teaching road safety lies. One of the aims of this resource is to ensure this responsibility is shared by all those involved with young children, though the primary responsibility is the parents.
It should also be emphasised that there is a need for overall balance when teaching road safety: we must not suggest to young children that they are always at great risk near traffic and we do certainly not want to convey the message to anyone, least of all parents, that children can only be kept safe by keeping them indoors or in cars.
