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Road safety more concern than 'stranger danger'

According to a poll by transport charity Sustrans, more than 40% of parents of five to 11-year olds say they are more concerned about road safety for their children, than 'stranger danger'.

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Charity CEO: We must 'urgently' make roads child safe

Sustrans launched its Campaign for Safer Streets today, urging parents to write to their MP to demand every child be given the right to a safe journey to school.

Sustrans chief executive Malcolm Shepherd said:

In 2012, a total of 33 children were killed and more than 1,800 were seriously injured while walking or cycling. If a whole classroom of children had been killed under other circumstances there would be public outcry.

There's a simple solution in our hands. We must urgently make our roads safer for those children already making a healthy, active school run and also to encourage those who don't feel safe enough to start walking or cycling.

– Malcolm Shepherd

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'44% of parents consider road safety biggest concern'

A total of 470 parents who have a child aged five to 11 who travels to and from school were polled in a survey from the sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

In the parents survey it showed:

  • 18% said their child had experienced a vehicle not stopping at a pedestrian crossing
  • 13% said their child had experienced a speeding vehicle nearly hitting them.
  • 5% said their child had been hit by a vehicle while walking
  • 44% said the safety of their child on the road was their biggest concern.

More: Road safety more concern than 'stranger danger'

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Road safety more concern to parents than 'strangers'

More than 40% of parents of five to 11-year olds say their child has been involved in a near-miss while walking or cycling to or from school, according to a survey by transport charity Sustrans.

Road safety is more of a concern to parents than "stranger danger", the survey from sustainable transport charity Sustrans also found, with 44% classing it above a stranger walking off with their son or daughter.

33 school children representing the number of child cyclists and child pedestrians killed during the school run in 2012. Credit: Bob Collier/PA Wire

Parents that were polled said that slower speeds and more dedicated walking and cycling routes and safer crossings were among the most important traffic measures that would allow their child to get to school without worry.

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