Child Safety Week runs from the 5th to the 11th of June this year and is an annual community education campaign promoted by the Child Accident Prevention Trust. It aims to raise awareness of the dangers of accidents children face in their everyday lives.
This year’s theme for Child Safety Week is – Safety Made Simple.
As specialist personal injury solicitors, Mooneerams regularly act for clients who’ve suffered injuries in road traffic accidents. Some of the most distressing cases we deal with are accidents involving children.
The latest accident statistics provided by the Department of Transport for 2022 revealed that in 2021, twelve young people under the age of sixteen died, and another 900 suffered serious injuries in pedestrian accidents.
In addition, four children died, and 330 were severely injured in cycling accidents.
Overall, over 13,000 children suffered injuries in road traffic accidents.
We thought we’d take this opportunity to help raise awareness of Child Safety Week by offering some simple advice for parents on keeping their young ones safe as pedestrians crossing the road and also while on the road as cyclists.
Our top tips for crossing the road safely:
- Hold your child’s hand when crossing the road.
- Always use pedestrian crossings where possible.
- Teach your child to stop, look, listen and think before crossing the road.
- Explain the importance of looking both ways before crossing.
- Tell your child to make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
- Remind your child to never run into the road.
- Explain why putting their mobile phones away while crossing the road is essential.
If you are teaching your children about road safety considerations when they are riding their bikes, we suggest the following tips may be helpful:
- Ensure your child wears a helmet and other appropriate safety gear
- Teach your child some simple rules of the road, such as staying in bike lanes where available
- Show your child how to use hand signals when turning
- Encourage your child to ride defensively and predictably; impress upon them that they should make other road users aware of the actions they are about to take.
- Explain the importance of staying visible, such as wearing bright clothing and using lights when riding at night.
- Remind your child never to use headphones or other devices that might distract them from the road.
It’s not only children that need to be aware of road safety considerations. Motorists are responsible for taking precautions to avoid colliding with child pedestrians or cyclists. Here are some safety tips for motorists to bear in mind to prevent collisions with child pedestrians or cyclists:
- Slow down and be extra vigilant in residential areas, near schools, and in areas with high pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
- Always check for children before turning left or right, reversing, or opening car doors.
- Be patient and give children plenty of space when passing them on the road.
- Avoid using mobile phones while driving and keep your attention focused on the road.
- Always wear a seat belt and observe all traffic laws.
- Look out for children wearing brightly coloured clothing, backpacks, hats or jackets.
- Be aware of children running out from behind parked cars in built-up areas.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust’s website contains a wealth of free downloadable resources, including fact sheets, session plans, activity sheets, display materials and videos; all produced with the same goal in mind – to prevent the death of young people from accidents that should not happen.
Fatal road accidents involving young people are relatively rare. However, even one fatality is too many. That’s why campaigns like Child Safety Week are so important.
Mooneerams Solicitors are proud to have 2wish as our Charity Partner of the Year. When a family unexpectedly loses a child or young adult, the effects on their family and loved ones are unimaginable. 2wish ensure that bereavement support is made available to all affected by the sudden death of a young person aged 25 or under throughout Wales.
