Two thousand and twenty five child pedestrians - equivalent to 80 classrooms - were killed or seriously injured on the roads last year, according to the figures.
In addition 8,106 child pedestrians were slightly injured. In total 169 children died on the roads, which is 20% more than in 2005.
The RAC Foundation and the Make Roads Safe campaign are launching a new educational tool for road safety aimed at 4 - 11 year olds in response to these shocking figures.
The online game at www.zebracrossinggame.com helps children to learn about road safety in a fun way while adults are encouraged to sign the Make Roads Safe campaign’s petition calling for a UN Ministerial conference on road safety to keep children safe around the world.
This is all very positive but nothing like real life experience, which the parents should be doing. While children continue to be closeted from the real world because they are by being ferried to school and various activities in the car, they will not learn the dangers of the road.
Suddenly they hit senior school and expected to have learnt basic road safety skills overnight! No wonder road accidents are the number one killer in the 10-24 age group in the UK.
Come on parents, the least you owe your child when you unwrap the cotton wool, is teaching them how to cross a road - safely.
Jackie Violet