30/5/2008

Road accidents to children walking to or from school in Swansea have dropped by more than half since 1998.

Jeff Green, Casualty Reduction Officer in Swansea Council, said. "The efforts to introduce traffic calming measures and spread the message of road safety in schools is clearly having a positive impact.

Swansea Council has released new accident statistics highlighting the reduction in accidents and say it is down to traffic calming initiatives and better education for children under 15.

Average number of schoolchildren involved in accidents between 1994 and 1998 was 53. The latest figures show this figure has dropped to 22.

Further improvements show there has been a reduction in the number of children under 15 involved in accidents including those traveling in a vehicle. The average number between 1994 and 1998 was 165. That figure has now dropped to 109.

Money received by the Council as part of the annual Road Safety Grant and Safe Routes in Communities initiatives is ploughed into traffic calming schemes throughout Swansea. Twenty mile-an-hour zones and pedestrian crossings have been implemented at many schools in recent years. The Council has also highlighted its intention to create safe 20mph zones near every school if funding is available.

Mr Green said: "Creating safe walking routes to and from local schools is essential in helping to encourage more children and parents to walk to school. We think that the reduction in accidents involving schoolchildren proves we are providing safer environments. It's vital that we continue this work for the benefit of everyone in the community."

Oystermouth Primary School is one of the latest schools to benefit from the work to create better walking routes. New pedestrian crossings at a busy junction near the school, along with the introduction of a 20mph speed limit, have helped encourage children to walk to school. To celebrate the completion of the scheme, the school organised a walking bus involving dozens of pupils walking together to school.

Allison Gough, the Council' Safe Routes in Communities Officer, said, "The school has been very proactive in its approach to road safety."

A record nine schools were successful in obtaining Safe Routes in Communities funding this year as part of the annual Transport Grant settlement. The schools included are Pentrepoeth, Crwys, Hafod, Knelston, Mayals, Plasmarl, Bishopston, Manselton and Penyrheol Primary Schools.