Nursery and school children are taking to the streets to raise awareness of how youngsters killed or injured in road traffic accidents
More than 8,000 kids from across Scotland will take to their streets today (Wednesday, 13 June) to raise awareness of the 179 children who are killed or seriously injured on the country’s roads every year.
The children, aged between four and 11, are among more than 100,000 from across the UK taking part in Brake’s Kids Walk. The national project is helping youngsters call for key measures to make roads safer, so more children can enjoy walking.
Road safety charity Brake highlighted that 179 children were killed or seriously injured on roads in Scotland in 2016. That means on average more than three children die or suffer serious injuries as a result of road crashes every single week.
More than 50 schools and nurseries across Scotland are uniting with Brake's Kids Walk, calling for five measures to help keep them safe: footpaths, cycle paths, safe places to cross, slow traffic and clean traffic.
Short, supervised walks are taking place today and all week at or around schools and nurseries.
Children will walk in a crocodile formation and hold hands to highlight the importance of being able to walk without fear or threat from traffic. Some schools are teaming up with their local fire service or police.
Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, said: “It is every child's right to be able to walk in their community without fear of traffic and pollution. But many kids are unable to do so because they don’t have access to simple measures such as footpaths, cycle paths and safe places to cross.
“Many more have to contend with fast traffic and pollution from vehicle emissions. If we want more children and their families to walk in Scotland, then we need to make sure their journeys are safe”
Michael Goldie, school campus officer from Police Scotland, who is running several events this week with Brake mascot Zak the Zebra, said: “This is a fantastic event whereby the pupils can involve the community to raise awareness of road safety in the local area."
