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˝ of North West drivers
admit to speeding in 20mph areas
ROAD safety charity Brake is
calling on drivers in the North West to #SlowDown this Beep Beep! Day as
survey reveals nearly ˝ of drivers, that's 48%, admit to speeding in 20mph
areas.
The new North West sample from 2,000 drivers also shows that
75% think traffic is too fast in their neighbourhood for the safety of
children on foot or bike. Research has found children cannot judge the speed
of approaching vehicles travelling faster than 20mph, so may believe it is
safe to cross when it is not. More than 5 children are seriously hurt or
killed every day in the UK, with the majority (80%) being on foot or bicycle
at the time.
The findings come as more than 50,000 2 to 7 children
aged 2 to 7 take part in a Beep Beep! Day run by Brake and Churchill Car
Insurance. The project for nurseries, schools and childminders engages
little ones with road safety including, critically helping them to raise
awareness among parents and the wider community about protecting children,
particularly those on foot or bicycle, by slowing down.
The event,
now in its 14th year, coincides with the United Nations Global Road Safety
Week's #SlowDown campaign, which aims to increase understanding of the
dangers of speed and encourage drivers in all countries to slow down to
protect road users. Beep Beep! Days are also happening in countries
including:- Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon and South Africa this
year.
500 children are killed on roads globally every day; a figure (68%)
North West drivers surveyed underestimated; showing the importance of
raising awareness about the situation across the world. That's why this
year's Beep Beep! Day includes a range of special resources to help children
to understand how people travel around the globe and to highlight the
importance of drivers slowing down where children live, walk and play.
Brake and Churchill's survey also reveals that nationally 73% of 25 to
34 year olds are likely to drive at 25mph or more in a 20mph area, whereas
fewer than 45% of 55 to 64 year olds say they would do so. Men (61%) admit
to driving at those speeds more than women (43%). The 25 to 34 age bracket
of drivers gave the highest results in terms of thinking that traffic
travels too fast in their community too (83%).
Dave Nichols,
community engagement manager at Brake, said:-
"All children have the right to play safely and live a
healthy life without fear; rights that are universally recognised by the
United Nations and world leaders. Yet, in the UK, 1 of the most developed
countries in the world, our children are often denied these rights because
of the lethal danger posed by fast traffic. That's why, in a week when the
UN is asking people across the world to #SlowDown on roads, we're calling on
UK drivers to take the lead in making roads safer for children; by driving
at 20mph or less and taking more care in communities. The Beep Beep! Day
project engages kids in this life saving cause, helping them learn about
road safety issues and, critically, inspire their parents and drivers to
reduce danger on our roads, by actions such as slowing down."
Steve Barrett, head of Churchill Car Insurance, said:-
"We are very proud to be supporting Beep Beep! Day once
again this year. Too many children die or are seriously injured on our roads
each week. Beep Beep! Day is a great way of starting to talk to young
children about road safety, as well as raising awareness among drivers,
including parents and grandparents, of the need to drive with extreme care
when young children are about."
Full survey results for North West:-
Q1. Within the past year, have you driven
at 25mph or faster in a 20mph speed limit?
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Yes, once a day or more 8%.
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Yes, several times a week 9%.
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Yes, about once a week 8%.
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Yes, about once a month 8%.
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Yes, less than once a month 15%.
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No, never 52%.
Q.2 Do you think traffic in your
neighbourhood is travelling too fast for the safety of children on foot or
bike?
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Yes, traffic is too fast on most/all local roads 25%.
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Yes, traffic is too fast on some local roads 50%.
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No, 25%.
Q3. How many children do you think are
killed on roads globally every day?
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100 - 29%.
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200 - 16%.
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300 - 14%.
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400 - 9%.
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500 - 32%.
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