The quantity of young children killed or seriously injured on UK roads has risen for the initial time in 20 years, according to the newest figures from the Division for Transport.
Last year, 2,060 youngsters under the age of 16 have been killed or seriously injured, a 3% boost on 2013.
Fatal or significant road casualties involving young children enhanced in each quarter of 2014 compared with the very same periods in 2013, the initial jump in rolling year-on-year comparisons since the 12 months ending in March 1995.
There was also an increase in the total number of youngster casualties, up 6% on 2013 at 16,640.
Nevertheless, deaths or serious injuries amongst kid pedestrian dropped by 1% more than the same period. This suggests most of the deaths and injuries happen in vehicles.
Grim reading
The statistics make grim reading, even though officials claim it is as well early to say if the figures mark the end of the extended-term downward trend in youngster deaths and critical injuries.
Some specialists blamed parents and other adults for failing to effectively secure their kids in vehicles.
Edmund King, president of the AA, says: “These newest road casualty statistics indicate a clear rise in in-auto child casualties. There is anecdotal proof to suggest this could be linked to the failure of parents to correctly match their children’s child seats.
“There is also separate research showing that some parents may not be maintaining their children belted-up in the back of the car.”
In-auto safety
A recent study by the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory located that 13% of youngster passengers have been not properly restrained, compared with just 1.9% of drivers caught without a seatbelt.
A survey by consumer group Which? also highlighted the prospective danger of ill-fitting child seats.
It’s not just kids who are at threat on the roads. The total quantity of road deaths at 1,730 was 1% higher than the preceding year.
There was also a 4% improve in the number of men and women killed or seriously injured on the roads at 24,360. There had been 192,910 reported road casualties of all severities, 5% larger than last year.
Worsening statistics
Even if you take into account a 2% rise in motor targeted traffic levels, the general casualty price per car mile enhanced by 3%.
Cyclists are especially vulnerable. There have been 3,500 pedal cyclist deaths or critical injuries in the year ending September 2014, an enhance of 8% on the prior year.
Motorcyclist deaths and critical injuries were also up 6% to 5,490. The number of vehicle users who had been killed or seriously injured rose by 3% to 8,770.
Blame game
Robert Goodwill, transport minister, was anxious to defend the government’s security record, claiming that Britain’s roads are amongst the safest in the world, with 40% fewer road deaths a year than a decade ago.
But campaigners are not convinced. The Institute of Advanced Motorists suggests that a reduce in the quantity of targeted traffic police could clarify the rise in casualties.
Road security charity, Brake, desires the government to implement a 3-point road safety strategy amid mounting concern about road safety, especially for cyclists and young children.
20-20 vision
Brake is calling for a modify in the default urban speed limit to 20mph and the introduction of a zero-tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg per 100ml of blood.
It also desires to introduce graduated driver licensing, to permit new drivers to develop skills and experience progressively even though exposed to much less danger.
Julie Townsend, Brake’s deputy chief executive, says: “We’re in no doubt these measures would put us back on the path of stopping needless loss of life on our roads, and making safer streets and communities for all.”
Shock reverse in road fatalities
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