Nearly 50 children are killed or seriously injured on UK roads every month with urgent support needed to prevent future incidents, a road safety charity has warned.
The heartbreaking data comes after research from the Department for Transport revealed that 17 children aged seven and under died in crashes in 2023, with a further 574 suffering serious injuries.
Road safety charity Brake is now urging adults to "take responsibility for keeping children safe" while travelling or near UK roads.
New statistics also found that the previous year saw 20 children in the same age range killed and 552 seriously injured, indicating a concerning trend.
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17 children aged seven and under died in crashes in 2023
GETTY
Brake's analysis highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by children on UK roads despite decades of safety improvements.
The charity also revealed that child fatalities are involved in around seven per cent of cases where its road crash victim support service is used. The charity has now started running an initiative named Beep Beep! Day to address this troubling situation.
As part of the scheme, more than 90,000 children aged between two and seven will be given road safety messages by schools, nurseries and childminders. The initiative aims to start conversations about road danger with young children.
It aims to help them understand why road safety is important from an early age and what small steps they can take to prevent future accidents.
The timing of this initiative comes as many families prepare for increased outdoor activities during the spring months which see more cars on the roads.
Ross Moorlock, chief executive of Brake, said: "As grown ups, we must always take responsibility for keeping children safe on our roads but this is a great opportunity to start conversations about road danger and help them understand why road safety is so important.
"We see, every day, the devastating effects of road crashes on families, through the work of our national road victim service, which this month is supporting 60 families following the death of a child in a road crash."
He warned that it was "shocking" that the number of children who have been killed or seriously injured in road crashes has risen in recent years and called for urgent Government action on the issue.
Brake's Road Victim Support Service provides crucial assistance to families affected by road tragedies. The charity also works alongside police Family Liaison Officers who support bereaved families through investigations and court proceedings.
As part of the Brake initiative the charity said it teaches children about holding hands with a grown-up when walking near roads, crossing roads at safe places with grown-ups and using a child seat when travelling by car.
Moorlock added: "Beep Beep! Day is a great opportunity to start a conversation with young children about why road safety is so important.
"It is up to us as grown-ups to keep children safe on our roads, and this is a great way to engage their attention and help them learn about making safe journeys. It's also a great opportunity to send vital safety messages out to all parents, carers and the wider community too."
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Many road safety experts have called for greater support needed to prevent road accidents
GETTYMeanwhile, in Sussex, authorities have recently launched a project providing an Independent Road Victim Advocate to offer additional emotional and practical support.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, NPCC Lead for Roads Policing, shared: “It is essential that we continue to work together in order to prevent harm and save lives on the roads, and this also includes taking personal responsibility for how we behave as a road user.”
