"WATCH OUT, DON'T WASTE LIVES" - CHIDGEY (Eastleigh Liberal Democrats)

Eastleigh Liberal Democrats <enquiries@eastleighlibdems.org.uk>

"WATCH OUT, DON'T WASTE LIVES" - CHIDGEY

July 1, 2004 12:49 PM

David Chidgey is calling for more road safety measures

David Chidgey, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, has joined the "Watch Out, There's a Kid About!" campaign organised by road safety charity Brake to highlight the horrendous death and injury toll of children on roads and the need for urgent action to save children from death and injury. Traffic is the biggest killer of young people aged 12 to 16.

Mr Chidgey joined other MPs, health and road safety professionals at an all-party meeting in Parliament on Tuesday. The group called for measures to make the streets safer for pedestrians, tougher enforcement for drivers who put children at risk, and more road safety education across the board. The Watch Out There's a Kid About! campaign highlights simple road safety measures, but could mean the difference between life and death for a child.

Mr Chidgey said:

"It is a horrifying fact that in 2002 alone, 79 children were killed while on foot by cars and a further 2 749 were seriously injured. I am determined that these numbers should be reduced and support all of Brakes' initiatives. All children have the right to walk the streets safely and we all need to do our bit to support that right."

Measures discussed at the meeting include 20mph zones around schools, homes and where children play; safer school crossings, including more School Crossing Patrols (lollipop ladies); speed cameras outside school and improved road safety education.

Brake will also be sending out Zak the Zebra to collect examples of 'best and worst' roads around the country. Zak will be out and about later this year to give roads the 'hoof up' if steps have been taken to protect children from traffic, or the 'hoof down' if a road is dangerous for children out walking and cycling.

Mr Chidgey has also signed a motion in Parliament welcoming efforts to reduce accidents through stricter enforcement of speed limits and greater flexibility for agencies enforcing regulations.