Your child is 20 per cent more likely to be hit by a car from next week – but here’s how to help keep them safe
With daylight savings coming to an end this Sunday, children will be more at risk of being involved in a road traffic accident as they walk home from school in the dark
CHILDREN are 20 per cent more likely to be involved in a collision with a vehicle from next week, according to statistics from the Department for Transport.
Figures for traffic accidents involving youngsters show a significant rise over the colder months as days become shorter.
With daylight savings ending this Sunday, the chance of children being struck by a car walking home from school in the dark is set to increase.
Almost 16,000 children are hurt on Britain's roads each year, with just under a quarter of those involved in an incident between the hours of 3pm-5pm - just as schools are finishing for the day.
Shorter days generally increase the risk for pedestrians, as they become harder for motorists to see under fewer hours of daylight.
According to official statistics, pedestrian deaths in 2016 rose steadily from 20 in September to 35 in October, 50 in November and 67 in December.
IAM RoadSmart's advice on keeping your kids safe on the walk home from school
- Wear bright colours: We know everyone wants to wear black, but if kids wear something with reflective strips on them it increases their chances of being seen. So parents, choose a rucksack and trainers with luminous or reflective patches or strips in them where you can.
- Concentrate: Kids are often glued to their phones, but if they can avoid looking at their screens while walking home, their chances of being in a collision are drastically reduced.
- Parents, get involved: Walk with your child on a Sunday on their school route and advise them on the safest path there and back. If they know where to go and what to look out for, they will be much safer.
IAM RoadSmart has put together some tips to help keep children safe during the darker months.
The roadside charity is especially concerned for youngsters aged 10-14, who have graduated to secondary school and are often making their way home solo for the first time.
For this age group, road crashes make up over 50 per cent of all external causes of death.
Children are advised to wear some kind of bright or reflective clothing if they are walking home in the dark, even if it's just a strip on their backpack.
Keeping their smartphone in their pocket can help them concentrate on getting home safely, while parents can advise of the best route back by walking it with their kids on the weekend.
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Rodney Kumar, spokesman for IAM RoadSmart, said: “There are very easy things children can do to stay safe when walking home from school in the dark – and it needn’t involve cramping their style.
"The most important advice is to concentrate on the journey, and make sure you’re seen.
"Black clothing may look good, but it’s not much help if it lands you in a hospital bed.
"Kids need to learn to love bright colours - it could even save their life one day.”