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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| More children killed on UK roads | More children killed on UK roads |
| (1 day later) | |
| The number of children under 16 killed on Britain's roads rose by 20% last year, according to figures from the Department for Transport (DfT). | |
| But the total number of people killed in road accidents fell slightly over the same period. | But the total number of people killed in road accidents fell slightly over the same period. |
| In total 3,172 people were killed on the roads in 2006 - a fall on the 3,201 in 2005, despite more traffic. | In total 3,172 people were killed on the roads in 2006 - a fall on the 3,201 in 2005, despite more traffic. |
| The number of children under 16 killed rose from 141 to 169 - similar to 2004 suggesting little long term change. | The number of children under 16 killed rose from 141 to 169 - similar to 2004 suggesting little long term change. |
| It is appalling that we are seeing more children killed on our roads Kevin Clinton, RoSPA | |
| Three years ago 166 youngsters were killed on Britain's roads, said the DfT. | Three years ago 166 youngsters were killed on Britain's roads, said the DfT. |
| Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation and campaigner for the Make Roads Safe initiative, said: "Children are much more likely to die in a road accident than from drugs or violent crime. | Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation and campaigner for the Make Roads Safe initiative, said: "Children are much more likely to die in a road accident than from drugs or violent crime. |
| "It's shocking that, in line with global trends, road accidents are the number one killer in the 10-24 age group in the UK." | "It's shocking that, in line with global trends, road accidents are the number one killer in the 10-24 age group in the UK." |
| He said it was essential to educate children about road safety from an early age. | He said it was essential to educate children about road safety from an early age. |
| Safety focus | |
| Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: "It is appalling that we are seeing more children killed on our roads. | |
| "These figures emphasise a real need to focus on making our roads safer for vulnerable people so that they can walk and cycle without fear." | |
| Britain has one of the best road safety records in world DfT spokesman | |
| In general Britain's roads are getting safer - the government has met its target of cutting child deaths by half by 2010, and hopes to cut all deaths and serious injuries by 40% by 2010. | In general Britain's roads are getting safer - the government has met its target of cutting child deaths by half by 2010, and hopes to cut all deaths and serious injuries by 40% by 2010. |
| And as provisional figures suggest road traffic levels rose by 1% compared to 2005, it is estimated the overall casualty rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres driven was 6% per cent lower than in 2005. | And as provisional figures suggest road traffic levels rose by 1% compared to 2005, it is estimated the overall casualty rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres driven was 6% per cent lower than in 2005. |
| Car users safer | |
| But road safety experts say too many young teenagers are still being killed, and total pedestrian deaths increased from 671 in 2005 to 675 in 2006. | But road safety experts say too many young teenagers are still being killed, and total pedestrian deaths increased from 671 in 2005 to 675 in 2006. |
| More motorcyclists were also killed - there were 599 fatalities, a 5% increase from 2005. | More motorcyclists were also killed - there were 599 fatalities, a 5% increase from 2005. |
| But there were less pedal cyclist fatalities, with death rates falling by 1% in 2006. | But there were less pedal cyclist fatalities, with death rates falling by 1% in 2006. |
| Car users were also safer in 2006 - the number of deaths was 1,612, 4% down from 2005, and the numbers of car users injured or seriously injured also fell. | Car users were also safer in 2006 - the number of deaths was 1,612, 4% down from 2005, and the numbers of car users injured or seriously injured also fell. |
| A spokesman for the DfT said: "Britain has one of the best road safety records in world. | A spokesman for the DfT said: "Britain has one of the best road safety records in world. |
| "Road deaths are now 11% lower than they were in the mid-1990s and they are continuing to fall. | "Road deaths are now 11% lower than they were in the mid-1990s and they are continuing to fall. |
| "But any death or injury is one too many and we are working hard to reduce road casualties as far as we can." | "But any death or injury is one too many and we are working hard to reduce road casualties as far as we can." |
| But Paul Smith, founder of the anti-speed camera group Safe Speed, said: "The fall of just under 1% in road deaths is further damning evidence of policy failure. | But Paul Smith, founder of the anti-speed camera group Safe Speed, said: "The fall of just under 1% in road deaths is further damning evidence of policy failure. |
| "Most of our European neighbours are achieving falls of 4% or more and we're entitled to at least that. | "Most of our European neighbours are achieving falls of 4% or more and we're entitled to at least that. |
| "Our road safety policies aren't working. | "Our road safety policies aren't working. |
| "There's far too much focus on vehicle speeds and no focus at all on driver quality." | "There's far too much focus on vehicle speeds and no focus at all on driver quality." |