Brake wants the Government to fund local authorities to implement 20mph speed limits in towns, villages and cities, alongside other measures to protect people on foot.
A survey of 1,000 parents by Brake, in partnership with Churchill Car Insurance, found nine in ten parents believe that fast traffic poses a danger to families and children in their community, and eight in ten would support a 20mph speed limit around homes, schools and shops.
Three in four parents said they would also walk more if the safety of nearby roads was improved by, for instance, putting in more crossings and lowering speed limits.
A Beep Beep! road safety day was held at Guildford Children’s Centre in Surrey today.
Children at the centre taking part in the event learnt basic road safety, through activities such as practising crossing a chalked out road in the playground, baking traffic light biscuits and making colourful road safety posters.
Nurseries, playgroups and childminders are urged to hold their own Beep Beep! Day to teach children basic road safety.
The Beep Beep! Day at Guildford Children's Centre was also attended by the parents of Harry Charlson, a three-year-old run down and killed at a crossing by a car that failed to stop in Guildford.
Harry’s mother Carol Charlson (pictured), said, ‘The tragic death of our beautiful son Harry has devastated our family forever: life will never be the same. And it was totally needless: a young, innocent life snatched away, in an event that could have been prevented through safer driving and safer roads.
‘We beg with drivers to pledge to drive below 20mph around homes, schools and communities, and always watch out for children. We’re supporting Beep Beep! Day because it’s all about speaking up for slowing down to 20mph in communities and working together with nurseries, schools and parents to save children’s lives.’
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, said, ‘Every time a child is killed or seriously hurt on roads it causes unimaginable heartache. Families and communities are left bereft for the needless waste of an innocent child’s life.
‘Together we can all take steps to prevent more children being hurt and killed, and to make our communities more family-friendly places, where children and adults can walk without fear.’
She added, ‘Making a commitment to driving below 20mph around homes, schools and shops is a life-saving act that all drivers can do. At the same time, we’re appealing to the Government and local authorities to do more to protect children, particularly investing in more 20mph limits.’
The money raised by settings through Beep Beep! Days helps Brake provide support for families bereaved and injured by road crashes and runs community road safety campaigns.
Last year more than 40,000 children took part in Beep Beep! Day. Brake is hoping to reach even more children with the 2012 campaign.
- To sign up to hold your own Beep Beep! Day call 01484 559 909 or go to www.brake.org.uk/beepbeepday.
