23431-85CHILDREN starting at secondary school in the coming weeks are most at risk of being involved in a road accident.

Parents are being urged to help keep their children stay safe on the roads before the back to school rush.

The Government's THINK! road safety campaign is reminding children and parents that children in their first years at secondary schools are the most at risk when it comes to road accidents.

Many new secondary pupils will have a longer journey which may be unfamiliar to them. They may have to walk or cycle on busier roads or use public transport on their own for the first time.

Traffic is the biggest killer of 12 to 16-year-olds and children aged 12 are at the greatest risk of pedestrian road accidents.

In Swindon, one of the worst accident black spots for children is Fleming Way and studies are being undertaken to improve this.

Adrian Dean, group officer for Swindon Council's traffic and road safety team, said there were lots of issues at stake with children's road safety.

"One of the main problems is getting more parents to walk to school with their children," he said.

"We are currently looking at ways we can improve the traffic situation outside the schools. We don't just want to foist it onto the schools for it to be their responsibility."

Mr Dean and his team have already carried out studies on roads outside Brookfield Primary School in Shaw, Ridgeway School in Wroughton and Crowdys Hill Special School in Upper Stratton in a bid to improve access at these sites.

Lisa Gibbs, the council's school travel plan co-ordinator, said the majority of schools in the borough are involved in the safety scheme.

She said: "We are always working to help schools make transport safer, easier and more sustainable."

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), lead member for education, says Swindon Council has been investing in safer routes to school for many years.

He said: "We need to keep investing in this though.

"We also need to get more people out of their cars and encourage walking to school.

"In Swindon it has been working exceptionally well but we need to take a combined approach.

"Road safety is important not just for secondary pupils, it's important for all school pupils.

"Pupils do receive road safety education, it's just a case of making sure they take it on board.

"Once children get into their teens they seem to think they can take on traffic and win, but they should never underestimate the dangers."

Professor Jimmie Thomson, a teenager psychology expert , said: "Young people tend to think that road accidents will never happen to them so road safety can seem like a low priority compared to the other pressures of starting secondary school.

"But the truth is that 11 to 16-year- olds are a high-risk group."

Keep them safe

Before term starts, ask your child to take you with them on their new school route so you can talk through the possible hazards. Help your child plan the safest route.

Make sure that your child can be easily seen. Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day, but reflective material is best at night.

Teach your child how to spot what drivers are likely to do next, for example, the use of indicators and road signs.

Emma-Kate Lidbury