Every year, about 5,000 children under the age of 16 die or are seriously injured on the UK’s roads, and as they get older and become more independent the risk increases.
Boys have nearly twice as many accidents as girls
Most road traffic accidents happen during school holidays and on light summer evenings when children are more likely to be playing outside. Boys have nearly twice as many accidents as girls because they tend to play more outdoor games, such as football.
The risk of being involved in a road accident is more than ten times greater for a child with hearing difficulties. And children in urban areas are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents than those in rural areas because they make more journeys on foot, play more often in the street and there are more parked cars, which reduce children's visibility.
It’s never too early to start talking to your child about road safety. Here are some things to consider:
Always hold your child’s hand and don’t let them run on ahead
Always use a pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing if there is one
Set a good example, for example at pedestrian crossings wait for the green man rather than crossing on red
Let your child help you decide where and when it’s safe to cross
Look out for hidden entrances or driveways across the pavement
Explain why they should never cross the road between parked cars
Make sure your child can be seen and put reflective strips on their clothing in winter
Every day, 26 children aged seven to ten are injured on UK roads, so It's important to ensure your child is developing good street sense.
If your child's seven, she may still be holding your hand while crossing the road, but by the age of 11 she could be travelling to school alone.
Explain road safety rules and make sure your child knows the Green Cross Code When you’re out and about, ask your child whether she thinks it’s safe to cross the road Help your child plan the safest route to a friend’s house or the local shops.
There are fun ways to get the message across, the government's Hedgehogs website uses interactive games, quizzes and jokes to teach children about road safety.
Young people between 11 and 16 are more at risk of being killed or seriously injured as a pedestrian or cyclist than any other age group.
They’re out and about on their own or with friends, and are easily distracted by their mates, by chatting or texting on their mobiles, or by listening to music.
Six out of ten teenagers have been involved in an accident or a near miss, or know someone at school who has been, and 62 per cent admit to being distracted by their friends as they cross the road, according to Department of Transport statistics.
Keep talking to your teen about road safety issues and remind them about distractions such as listening to music while crossing or automatically following other teenagers across the road without checking it's safe.
Encourage them to practise judging the speed and distance of vehicles.
One of the biggest road safety issues for teenagers is getting into cars with young drivers
One of the biggest road safety issues for teenagers is getting into cars with young drivers, so discuss why they should avoid this.
Many drivers aged 17 and 18 show off by driving too fast, while others may be under the influence of drink or drugs. They often carry too many passengers, which is why a quarter of all 15-year-olds killed in road accidents are passengers in cars with an under-21 driver.
While we all like to see our children getting some exercise, many road accidents occur while they're cycling.
To minimise the risk of this happening:
Ensure your child’s bike is the right size and well maintained, with good brakes, lights and reflective strips
Ensure they always wear a helmet and that it fits properly
Find a cycle safety course in your area – many schools and local authorities run them
Encourage your child to use cycle paths, lanes and routes if they're available
If you’re a driver, remember to keep your speed down. Department of Transport research shows that 85 per cent of pedestrians who are hit by a car doing 40mph die, compared with 45 per cent at 30mph and 5 per cent at 20mph.