Road Safety – Do you know the real facts? Additional supporting material can be found at

Whether it's…. having fun with your mates, chatting on your mobile phone, listening to music, or just thinking about something. It’s easy to forget about keeping yourself safe, especially on the roads.

Did you know? Traffic is the biggest single cause of accidental death for year olds. Six out of ten youngsters reported that they have either been in an accident / near miss or know someone at school who had been. 62% of young people admit to being distracted by talking to friends as they cross the road. It only takes a second to become one of the 22,000 young people injured on our roads every year.

Children should be aware that when they are out and about as a pedestrian, they should think about what they are doing when they reach the kerb. Distractions such as using personal stereos, chatting on the mobile and texting while crossing the road are a big danger. 36% of girls and 25% of boys say they get distracted crossing the road by using their mobiles. The Government has set a target to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured on the road by 50% by 2010, compared to the average number from 1994–1998 Out and about – Are you distracted when crossing the road?

In 2008, 73 children aged 0–11 years were killed on Britain’s roads. Another 1,436 were seriously injured. In 2008 a Transport Research Laboratory survey showed that 6% of 5–9 year olds were not restrained at all whilst travelling in the rear of cars. Most children under 9 can't judge how fast vehicles are going or how far away they are. 68% of children aged 0–11 killed or seriously injured in 2008 were on foot at the time. In comparison with other countries, Britain’s overall road safety record for children is on the whole very good, and its rate for child fatalities is well below the European average. But our record on child pedestrian fatalities remains worse than many other European countries, though improving rapidly. The bigger picture

Deaths and injuries on the road 3,508 people were killed in road accidents in ,707 were seriously injured 253,392 were slightly injured Real people, real numbers Children 171 children were killed in road accidents in ,929 were seriously injured More than twice as many boys as girls are killed or seriously injured in pedestrian and cycle accidents. Cyclists 114 pedal cyclists were killed in road accidents in ,297 were seriously injured

Dos and don’ts for cyclists –Be visible. Ride well clear of the kerb, wear bright clothing and always use lights after dark or in poor weather conditions. –Show drivers what you plan to do. Always look and signal before you start, stop or turn. –Ride a straight line past parked cars rather than dodging between them. –Don't jump red lights. –Don't ride on pavements. –Don't ride the wrong way up one-way streets, unless there's a sign saying cyclists can.

Sharing the road The biggest road user group are motorists. You should always be aware of other road users particular motorists when using the roads. Remember in any accident involving a pedestrian or cycle the motorist is ALWAYS going to come off best. Finally… Remember An adult should walk with you until you are comfortable that you have identified the best places to walk, cross and where to look out for blind spots. It's also worth remembering that if the traffic can't see you, it may be too late by the time they do. When buying coats, especially in winter when the nights draw in, make sure it is a light colour. You can also add reflected products to add to your visibility.