Hemel Hempstead MP urges parents to ensure their children are road safety aware during Injury Prevention Week

This week is Injury Prevention Week (17-21 August)
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The MP for Hemel Hempstead is urging parents to make sure their children are road safety aware.

The call comes after a new survey revealed that most parents do not think their children understand road dangers or concentrate properly when near roads.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Safety campaigners have urged parents to help children learn the Green Cross Code 'as they would their spellings or times tables'.

Sir Mike Penning MP urges parents to ensure their children are road safety aware during Injury Prevention WeekSir Mike Penning MP urges parents to ensure their children are road safety aware during Injury Prevention Week
Sir Mike Penning MP urges parents to ensure their children are road safety aware during Injury Prevention Week

In a survey by YouGov, commissioned for Injury Prevention Week (17-21 August) almost two-thirds of parents did not think their children had a good understanding of the dangers or concentrate near roads.

Children aged 15 and under account for around a quarter of pedestrian injuries and deaths on British roads.

Sir Mike Penning said: “One child killed or injured on our roads is one too many.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We really do need to focus on educating our children on road safety awareness to help prevent any future accidents.”

Sam Elsby, president of APIL – a not-for-profit group for injured people, which hosts Injury Prevention Week - said: “One in eight parents went as far as to say they are very concerned about their children’s safety.

"The Highway Code states that children should not be allowed out alone until they can understand and use the Green Cross Code properly.

"So it is particularly important for those children who may be walking to school without a parent or guardian for the first time this term.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I urge parents to be proactive this Injury Prevention Week. Support children in their knowledge and understanding as it is their best tool for avoiding harm on the roads.

“Test your children this week on crossing between parked cars and on bends.

"And ask them if they know to look out for reverse lights so they know if a car is about to move backwards. Test them in the same way you would test them on their spellings or times tables."