Parents worried over school run safety

MORE THAN 40% of parents of five to 11-year-olds say their child has been involved in a near-miss while walking or cycling to or from school, according to a survey.

Road safety is more of a concern to parents than "stranger danger", the survey from sustainable transport charity Sustrans also found.

A total of 470 parents who have a child aged five to 11 who travels to and from school were polled.

The survey showed:

:: 18% of parents said their child had experienced a vehicle not stopping or stopping too late at a pedestrian crossing

:: 13% said their child had experienced a speeding vehicle nearly hitting them while crossing the road

:: 5% said their child had been hit by a vehicle while walking

:: 44% said the safety of their child on the road was their biggest concern, compared with 28% whose main concern was the potential danger from a stranger

Parents said that slower speeds, more dedicated walking and cycling routes and safer crossings were among the traffic measures that would allow their children to walk and cycle to school more often.

Sustrans launched its Campaign for Safer Streets today, urging parents to write to their MP to demand every child be given the right to a safe journey to school.

Sustrans chief executive Malcolm Shepherd said: "In 2012, a total of 33 children were killed and more than 1,800 were seriously injured while walking or cycling. If a whole classroom of children had been killed under other circumstances there would be public outcry.

"There's a simple solution in our hands. We must urgently make our roads safer for those children already making a healthy, active school run and also to encourage those who don't feel safe enough to start walking or cycling."

By Peter Woodman, Press Association Transport Correspondent