Sheffield roads among England's most dangerous for children

Charities say more needs to be done to make the nation’s roads safer, while council bosses say road safety remains a ‘key priority’.

Public Health England and the Department for Transport data shows 113 under-16s were killed or seriously injured in road collisions in Sheffield from 2016-18. At a rate of 35.9 incidents per 100,000 children, that is one of the highest figures in England, which had an average of 17.7 incidents.

Coun Robert Johnson, Sheffield Council cabinet member for transport, said: “Road safety remains a key priority for the council and a number of measures are in place to reduce the risk of accidents on our roads.

“Since 2012, the council has implemented a policy to reduce the speed limits in residential areas to 20mph, as well as undertaking a comprehensive review of every school entrance in the city.

“This work resulted in a programme of enforceable parking restrictions around school entrances as a way to help improve pedestrian visibility and safety.

“The council's road safety team works with more than 35 primary schools each year and more than 50 school crossing patrol wardens provide safer crossing points across potentially dangerous roads for pupils on their journey to and from school. In addition, the council has also recently piloted a School Street initiative in two schools, which temporarily closed roads outside both schools at opening and closing times to encourage safer, greener and healthier travel.

“Ultimately, we all have a duty to ensure we travel around the city safely and that means adhering to speed limits and taking extra care around busy pedestrian areas.

“No child should ever be put at risk when walking to and from school.”

Across the country, 5,665 children were killed or seriously injured on the roads in 2016-18.

Road safety charity Brake said it was a ‘tragedy’ so many children are still hurt or killed on the roads.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has ‘called on the government to increase efforts to reduce pedestrian casualties involving children’.