Some drivers need a lesson in road safety as children go back to school

A call is being made for drivers to help make streets safer for children to walk and cycle, by committing to slow down to 20mph around homes, shops and schools. Research out today reveals that although drivers say they want safer streets for children, many aren't following this through by reducing their speed in local communities.

Brake and Direct Line's survey of 1,000 drivers from across the UK finds:

• Nearly two thirds (64%) think traffic is too fast on some or all local roads for the safety of children on foot and bikes and 65% want action to make walking and cycling safer around schools, homes and in town and village centres.
• Six in ten (63%) admit to driving at 35mph or faster in a 30 limit and 29% do this at least once a week.
• Two thirds (67%) explained they feel pressure from other drivers to go faster in built up areas, while a third (33%) say they give in to this pressure to make them drive faster.

Five children under 16 are killed or seriously injured when walking or cycling every day in the UK. Reducing vehicle speeds can make a massive difference to the safety of children on foot and riding bikes. At 20mph, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, for example if a child runs out into the road.

Brake is urging drivers everywhere to help make roads safer for kids by committing to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops, even where the limit is 30mph. Through the GO 20 campaign, it is also calling for 20mph limits to become the norm across built-up areas. It is calling for more safe pavements, paths and crossings, so children and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and for cheap and sustainable travel, without being or feeling endangered.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: "While it's important kids and young people receive road safety education, it's crucial that drivers take on the ultimate responsibility for protecting children on foot and bike.

"Our research shows there's a contradiction in what some drivers say they want and the way they behave at the wheel.

"As well as campaigning for government and local authorities to do more to reduce speeds in communities to tackle pedestrian and cyclist casualties and create nicer places to live, we're appealing to drivers everywhere to do their bit too. By slowing down to 20mph around homes, shops and schools, you'll be helping to save lives, and enabling children to walk and cycle more in their neighbourhoods."

Rob Miles, head of Motor at Direct Line, said: "Whilst parents can teach children how to cross the road safely and warn them of the dangers when they are out playing or walking to school, the lives of their loved ones are very much in the hands of drivers and whether or not they are willing to slow down.

"Speed limits are a maximum and not a 'must do'. Drivers, and not just pedestrians, have a responsibility to gauge the conditions of the community they are driving through, and we urge motorists to drive as they'd want others to if their child was playing nearby."

Why GO 20?

• Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have more time to react and stop in time if they need to. Studies show when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists.
• More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling.
• Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for children and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities.
• Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic.
• Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike.

Advice for parents

Deciding to let children walk or cycle to school unsupervised is a difficult decision for many parents, who are faced with having to weigh up the benefits of their child living an active lifestyle with the threat of their child being hurt by drivers.

Research shows many are put off letting their child get out and about by traffic danger. Making roads safer helps more parents to let kids walk or cycle.

Parents who are worried that their child's route to school isn't safe enough have a number of options.

If it's possible, they could walk with their child to school, helping to keep them safe, or set up a walking bus with the help of other parents.

They could also work with the school to set up a local campaign for safer roads, calling for measures such as a 20mph limit, crossings, pavements and paths.

They can also check if their child's school runs pedestrian and cyclist training, and encourage them to contact the local authority to provide this if they don't.

Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 63 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (18-24 November 2013), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake's support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.