The number of children killed or seriously injured on UK roads has risen for the initial time in 20 years, according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport.
Final year, 2,060 kids below the age of 16 were killed or seriously injured, a 3% improve on 2013.
Fatal or significant road casualties involving kids elevated in each and every quarter of 2014 compared with the exact 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 boost in the total quantity of child casualties, up 6% on 2013 at 16,640.
Nevertheless, deaths or serious injuries amongst youngster pedestrian dropped by 1% over the identical period. This suggests most of the deaths and injuries occur in automobiles.
Grim reading
The statistics make grim reading, though officials claim it is as well early to say if the figures mark the end of the long-term downward trend in kid deaths and serious injuries.
Some specialists blamed parents and other adults for failing to properly secure their kids in vehicles.
Edmund King, president of the AA, says: “These newest road casualty statistics indicate a clear rise in in-vehicle kid casualties. There is anecdotal proof to suggest this could be linked to the failure of parents to properly match their children’s kid seats.
“There is also separate investigation showing that some parents may possibly not be maintaining their children belted-up in the back of the vehicle.”
In-automobile security
A current study by the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory located that 13% of child passengers had been not effectively restrained, compared with just 1.9% of drivers caught without having a seatbelt.
A survey by customer group Which? also highlighted the potential danger of ill-fitting child seats.
It’s not just kids who are at risk on the roads. The total number of road deaths at 1,730 was 1% higher than the preceding year.
There was also a 4% boost in the quantity of individuals killed or seriously injured on the roads at 24,360. There have 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 visitors levels, the overall casualty rate per vehicle mile improved by 3%.
Cyclists are specifically vulnerable. There have been 3,500 pedal cyclist deaths or significant injuries in the year ending September 2014, an enhance of 8% on the earlier year.
Motorcyclist deaths and serious injuries had been also up 6% to 5,490. The quantity of car customers who were 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 explain the rise in casualties.
Road security charity, Brake, desires the government to implement a 3-point road security plan amid mounting concern about road safety, specifically for cyclists and youngsters.
20-20 vision
Brake is calling for a adjust 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 wants to introduce graduated driver licensing, to let new drivers to develop expertise and knowledge steadily although exposed to significantly 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 creating safer streets and communities for all.”
Shock reverse in road fatalities
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