Child Road Safety Audit for South Gloucestershire 9 - August 9
Contents Page Foreword Executive Summary. Introduction. Review of the Action Plan. Summary of Casualty Statistics 9. Child Casualty Trends. Child Pedestrians 7. Child Cyclists 7. Child Car Passengers. Action Plan 9 9. Traffic Calming Around Schools Appendices -
Foreword by Brian Allinson, the Executive Member for Planning, Transportation & Strategic Environment Improving road safety for children and reducing the numbers killed or injured on our roads is a major priority for the council. The number of children who are injured on roads within South Gloucestershire each year is, thankfully, relatively low when compared to other parts of the country and it is encouraging that in, fewer children than ever were killed or injured on our roads. Whilst these statistics show that the council s efforts are having a positive impact, we understand how devastating a road accident can be for those involved. One child road casualty is one too many and so we will continue to do everything we can to further improve road safety and further reduce the numbers of children injured on our roads. We will continue to work towards meeting the targets set out in the Joint Local Transport Plan. We will endeavour to reduce the number of children injured on our roads through a combination of engineering, education, training and publicity projects. By working with our partners in the West of England Road Safety Partnership we have been able to make more effective use of our resources and benefit from the knowledge and skills of our partners. The council s continuing membership of this partnership will mean we are better equipped to reduce casualties. This report details an Action Plan aimed at improving child road safety, which we will aim to deliver within the years 9 to. Through analysing the data in the Child Safety Audit we are able to implement strategies to reduce casualties and make our roads safer.
Executive Summary This Child Road Safety Audit is an update of the first Audit for South Gloucestershire produced in. This was carried out in response to the Government s request for all local authorities to produce audits to benefit children s road safety. This Audit covers the period to, to coincide with the Local Transport Plan. The Audit aims to give a broad indication of the child (i.e. - years age group) casualty statistics in South Gloucestershire and to detail an Action Plan aimed at improving child road safety, based on this statistical analysis. The child casualty reduction targets Overall progress towards the national casualty reduction target has been very good, with year on year reductions in child killed and seriously injured (KSi) casualties between and. With totals of, and in the respective years between and 7, the council was on course to meet the target. There was an upturn in child KSi casualties in however (to 9), which means that South Gloucestershire is currently not on track to meet the % child KSi casualty reduction target for. However it should be emphasised that the overall number of child KSi s in South Gloucestershire is relatively small and is therefore susceptible to large annual percentage fluctuations. It is encouraging that there has been a % drop in total child casualties when is compared to the 99 to 99 baseline figure. It is also encouraging that child casualty rates per head of population in South Gloucestershire have been consistently below the national rates. However it is a continuing cause for concern that child casualty numbers rise significantly as they progress to secondary school and the Action Plan will aim to tackle this issue. The following key points form the basis of the Child Safety Audit Action Plan for 9-: Efforts will be focused on child pedestrian and child cyclist casualty reduction in the areas where most of these casualties occur. These are the urban areas of South Gloucestershire that surround Bristol and the urban area of Yate. The good Bikeability work delivered for cyclists will be extended through the Cycle City Demonstration Project, with a target to double numbers receiving cycle training by. Road Safety Officers will deliver road safety messages to children starting their last term at primary school to make them aware of the significant rise in casualty numbers as they progress to secondary school. A Road Safety Officer will be tasked with dedicating her time to delivering road safety Education, Training and Publicity (ETP) to secondary school children, Cycle training will continue to be promoted to secondary school age children and expanded through the Cycle City Demonstration Project. Road safety efforts will be focused on schools which have had injury accident clusters in their vicinity involving children travelling to or from school. These are all secondary schools as follows:
o Downend Secondary, o Mangotsfield Secondary, and o The Grange Secondary. ETP efforts will focus on all schools and a road safety engineering scheme is programmed for Mangotsfield Secondary School. The initial pilots for ETP will be run in Downend School, where particular pupil behavioural problems at the roadside have been identified as contributory factors in accidents. The other schools have had road safety engineering schemes carried out in the recent past. Discussions with the police have taken place, regarding specific enforcement activity, should it be required. Road Safety Officers will deliver advice to parents to make them aware of the road safety risks to children. Road Safety Officers will re-issue schools with leaflets advising of the legal requirement to wear seat belts in cars. The Highways Agency will be asked to raise the awareness of car occupants about the need to ensure that children belt up in the back.
. Introduction The Road Safety Action Plan detailed in the Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP) /7 / specified the need to carry out Child Safety Audits on an area wide basis. This audit aims to give a broad indication of the child (ie - years age group) casualty statistics in South Gloucestershire. This will assist with the identification of priorities that need to be addressed if the numbers of child casualties are to be reduced.. Review of the Action Plan The Child Road Safety Audit detailed a number of actions that should be considered to improve child road safety in South Gloucestershire. The actions are listed below together with comments as to what extent they were delivered. Action: Efforts will be focused on child pedestrian and child cyclist casualty reduction in the areas where most of these casualties occur. These are the urban areas of South Gloucestershire that surround Bristol and the urban area of Yate. Comments: Action: Twenty four Road Safety Days have been delivered to Primary Schools in Kingswood, Filton, Patchway and Yate, with all Primary Schools in Yate having received them. Cycle training has been delivered to, children in the Kingswood, Filton, Patchway and Yate areas. All schools have been advised of the services available from the Road Safety ETP Team Schools within the areas mentioned above will be the first priority for the School Travel Plan Co-ordinator to visit and be encouraged to produce Travel Plans. Comments: Action: By the end of March 9, ninety one schools had approved Travel Plans, with a further awaiting sign-off. Travel Plans for the remaining schools should be completed by March.Since, some million has been spent on School Travel Plan grants, Safer Routes to School schemes and cycle storage facilities within schools. A review of best practice will be carried out during / to find out how other authorities in the country approach child pedestrian training. During / a policy and programme for the most appropriate child pedestrian training scheme for South Gloucestershire will be set out, based on these findings. A bid for resources will be made to start the programme in /.
Comments: Action: A child pedestrian training scheme called Feet First, where volunteers teach children how to cross roads safely, has now been adopted in South Gloucestershire. To date, the course has been delivered to ten schools, with approximately children having received training. A cyclist-training course for pupils at secondary schools will be developed by March and the programme will be implemented in /. Schools within the areas where most cyclist casualties occur will be given priority for training. Comments: Action: The national standard cycle training scheme called Bikeability has been adopted in South Gloucestershire. Over secondary school pupils have received training to the new standard. Road Safety Officers will deliver road safety messages to children starting their last term at primary school in /. This will aim to make them aware of the significant rise in casualty numbers from age and will advise them of how they can improve their own road safety. Comments: Action: Twenty four Road Safety Days have been delivered to Primary Schools in Kingswood, Filton, Patchway and Yate, with all Primary Schools in Yate having received them Road Safety Officers will seek to carry out spot checks on child seat belt wearing outside schools (including secondary schools). Leaflets advising of the legal requirement to wear seat belts will be distributed to schools in / where children are observed not wearing seat belts. The police will carry out subsequent checks/enforcement at these schools to ensure that seat belts are in use. Comments: Action: Leaflets advising of the legal requirement to wear seat belts were distributed to schools. This message was reinforced in those schools that received road safety days. The Highways Agency will be invited to take part in a joint campaign in / aimed at raising the awareness of car occupants about the need to ensure that children belt up in the back. 7
Comments: Action: Due to a lack of staff resources, the joint campaign was not delivered. However the Highways Agency is a key partner of the West of England Road Safety Partnership and close liaison on road safety is maintained. A high profile road safety campaign, involving partners in all the emergency services, the Safety Camera Partnership, Social Services, Youth Workers and the NHS will be conducted in the Kings Chase electoral ward in March. This electoral ward has been identified as the most disadvantaged in South Gloucestershire and has been shown to have a high child pedestrian casualty rate. Comments: Action: The campaign carried out in received national recognition from the Minister for Transport. This was followed up by campaigns in the Filton and Yate electoral wards in and Staple Hill in. Further campaigns were carried out in both Kings Chase and Staple Hill in 7. Intensive campaigns in disadvantaged wards have now been replaced by prioritising ETP activity within these areas. Engineering schemes aimed at reducing child casualties will be put forward for consideration for inclusion in the Council s Capital Works programmes. Schemes identified for possible inclusion in the / programme include: - Comments: o Goose Green Way, Yate, o Greenbank Road, Hanham, o Tennis Court Road, Kingswood, o Filton Avenue (south), Filton. These schemes are all within the areas that the study has shown most child casualties occur. Many of the other traffic management schemes being promoted in / are at sites where child casualties have occurred and will have child safety benefits. The table below shows the before and after child casualty records for the above schemes. Location Scheme Child casualties before Child casualties after Goose Green Way, Yate Pedestrian refuge island & high friction surfacing at a pedestrian crossing Greenbank Road, Traffic calming (speed Hanham cushions) Tennis Court Road, Traffic island and zebra Kingswood crossing improvements Filton Avenue (south), Kerb build outs and Filton crossing improvements Total
Unfortunately accidents, including one involving injury to a child, have continued to occur on Filton Avenue (south). A scheme to provide speed tables at the accident cluster site at the Ninth Avenue/ Northville Road crossroads has been added to the Capital Works Programme for 9/.. Summary of Casualty Statistics The reduction in the total number of child casualties in South Gloucestershire has broadly kept pace with the national reductions, although the reduction in KSi s has not kept pace. However it should be emphasised that the overall number of child KSi s in South Gloucestershire is relatively small and is therefore susceptible to large annual percentage fluctuations. The child KSi casualty rate per head of population in South Gloucestershire has been consistently well below the national rate. In South Gloucestershire, child car passenger casualties are generally higher than pedestrian or cyclist casualties. This contrasts with the situation nationally, where pedestrian casualties are highest, and possibly reflects the high car ownership levels in South Gloucestershire. Pedestrians Both KSi child pedestrian casualty numbers and total child pedestrian casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire showed significant decreases in when compared to the 99 to 99 average figures. Child pedestrian casualty numbers generally increase with age, both in South Gloucestershire and in the country as a whole. In particular, casualty numbers rise significantly from age. % of school age child pedestrian casualties in South Gloucestershire occur on journeys to or from school. However few of these casualties occur in the immediate vicinity of schools (see Appendix ). Casualty numbers are significantly higher during the afternoon school run than the morning. Almost 9% of the child pedestrian accidents that occur on school journeys in South Gloucestershire involve children of secondary school age. Most child pedestrian accidents occur within the Bristol urban fringe area of South Gloucestershire. Cyclists Total child cyclist casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire showed significant decreases in when compared to the 99 to 99 average figure. Although KSi child cyclist casualty numbers were higher in () compared to the 99 to 99 average figure (.), these numbers are relatively low and susceptible to large annual percentage fluctuations. Child cyclist casualty numbers generally increase with age, both in South Gloucestershire and in the country as a whole. In particular, casualty numbers rise significantly from age. 9
% of school age child cyclist casualties occur on journeys to or from school in South Gloucestershire. However few of these casualties occur in the immediate vicinity of schools (see Appendix ) All but one of the recorded casualties on school journeys was of secondary school age. Most child cyclist accidents occur within the Bristol urban fringe area and the Yate areas of South Gloucestershire. Car Passengers Both KSi child car passenger and total child car passenger casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire showed significant decreases in when compared to the 99 to 99 average figures. Child car passenger casualty numbers generally increase with age, both in South Gloucestershire and in the country as a whole. Only % of school age child car passenger casualties occur on journeys to or from school in South Gloucestershire. Over one quarter of child car passenger accident locations occur on motorways, for which South Gloucestershire Council is not responsible (see Appendix ).
. Child Casualty Trends Figures and show child casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire and Great Britain respectively, as well as the child KSi target trend line. Figure All Child Casualties and KSi target trend line South Gloucestershire 7 7 9 KSi Total Target Number of Casualties 9 9 9 7 9-9 ave 9 9 9 7 9 7 7 999 7 9 Year Figure All Child Casualties and KSi target trend line Great Britain 97 9 KSi Total Target 9 9 Number of Casualties 7 99 7 7 9 77 99 9 9 9 7 9 9 7 9-9 ave 999 7 9 Year
In Great Britain, there has been a 9% reduction in the number of child killed and seriously injured casualties (KSi s) and a 9% reduction in the total number of child casualties when the 99-9 average figure is compared to the figure. This compares to a % decrease in child KSi s and a % reduction in the total number of child casualties in South Gloucestershire for the same period. Conclusion: Although the reduction in KSi child casualties in South Gloucestershire has not kept pace with the national reduction, the reduction in the total number of child casualties has broadly kept pace. However it should be emphasised that the overall number of child KSi s in South Gloucestershire is relatively small and is therefore susceptible to large annual percentage fluctuations. Child Casualties by Road User Group Table shows child casualties by road user group in South Gloucestershire when is compared to the 99 to 99 average figure. Table Child Casualties by Road User Group in South Gloucestershire Road User 99-99 Ave KSi Total KSi % Change in KSi's Total % Change in Total Pedestrians 7. -9-9 Cyclists. - Car Passengers.. - - Minibus Passengers.. - Bus Passengers.. - Horse riders.. Goods Vehicle Passengers.. - Others.. - - Total.. 9-7 7 -
Figure shows the trends in child casualties by road user group in South Gloucestershire. Figure Child Casualties by Road User Group South Gloucestershire 7... 7 7 9 Pedestrians Pedal Cyclists Car Passengers Number of Casualties..... 9 9 9.. 99-99 Ave 999 7 Year Figure shows the child casualty trends by road user group for Great Britain. There is no child car occupant casualty data available for Great Britain at this time. Figure Child Casualties by Road User Group Great Britain 7 9 Pedestrians Pedal Cyclists Car Passengers Number of Casualties 99 9 9 79 7 7 99 79 7 97 99-99 Ave 999 7 Year
Figure shows the trends in KSi child casualties by road user group in South Gloucestershire. Figure Child KSi Casualties by Road User Group South Gloucestershire 9 Pedestrians Pedal Cyclists Car Passengers 7 7 7 Number of Casualties.. 99-99 Ave 999 7 Year Figure shows the trends in KSi child casualties by road user group in Great Britain. There is no child car occupant casualty data available for Great Britain at this time. Figure Child KSi Casualties by Road User Group Great Britain 7 Pedestrians Pedal Cyclists Car Passengers 7 Number of Casualties 9 99 7 9 9 7 9 7 9 9 9 7 77 7 7 99-99 Ave 999 7 Year
Conclusions: Almost all child casualties in South Gloucestershire are in the car passenger, cyclist and pedestrian road user groups. Hence it is to these groups that casualty reduction work should principally be targeted. In South Gloucestershire, child car passenger casualties are generally higher than pedestrian or cyclist casualties. This contrasts with the situation nationally, where pedestrian casualties are highest, and possibly reflects the high car ownership levels in South Gloucestershire. The high level of child car passenger casualties in South Gloucestershire should be borne in mind when formulating child casualty reduction programmes. Child pedestrian KSi s are generally higher than cyclist or car passenger casualties both in South Gloucestershire and nationally. There was a significant increase in child cyclist KSi s in South Gloucestershire in when compared to the previous four years. Although this is a cause for concern it should be remembered that child casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire are relatively small and therefore susceptible to large annual percentage fluctuations. There have been significant reductions in total child pedestrian, cyclist and car passenger casualties both in South Gloucestershire and nationally. Child Casualties per, child population Figure 7 shows the casualty rates for all injury severities (ie fatal, serious and slight) per, child population for South Gloucestershire and Great Britain. It should be noted that the child population fell in both South Gloucestershire and nationally by about % between and 7. No population data is yet available for. Figure 7 Child Casualties per, Child Population South Glos GB 9 Child Casualty Rate/, child population 7 9 7 Year
Figure shows the KSi casualty rates per, child population for South Gloucestershire and Great Britain. No population data is yet available for. Figure Child KSi Casualties per, Child Population South Glos GB Child KSi Casualty Rate/, child population 7 Year Conclusions: The KSi casualty rate per head of population in South Gloucestershire has been consistently well below the national rate. Although the casualty rate for all child casualties in South Gloucestershire has been consistently lower than the national rate, it has been rising in South Gloucestershire between the years and 7 whereas nationally it has been falling. However it should be remembered that child casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire are relatively small and therefore susceptible to large annual percentage fluctuations.
. Child Pedestrians Figure 9 shows the age and gender profile of child pedestrian casualties. Figure 9 Child Pedestrian Casualties by Age and Gender - South Gloucestershire Female Male Number of Casualties 7 9 Age Figure shows how child pedestrian casualties across age groups in South Gloucestershire compare with Great Britain. Full data for child casualties by road user group is not yet available for Great Britain as a whole. Figure Child Pedestrian Casualties by Age Group South Gloucestershire and Great Britain % % % % S Glos - GB 7 % % of Total Child Pedestrian Casualties % % % % % % % % % % % % % % - -7 - - Age Group 7
Figures and show the distribution of child pedestrian casualties by time of day and day of week respectively. Figure Child Pedestrian Casualties by Time of Day - South Gloucestershire Number of Casualties 7-9 9-9 -9-9 -9 7-9 9-9 Time Figure Child Pedestrian Casualties by Day of Week - South Gloucestershire 7 Number of Casualties 9 7 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Day of Week
The School Journey Table shows an analysis of accidents occurring on journeys to or from school for the years -. Table Child Pedestrian Accidents - South Gloucestershire All Accidents involving - year old pedestrians Accidents involving - year old pedestrians on school journeys - years - years Total % on School Journey 7 9 % Figure shows the distribution of pedestrian accidents by month for the period -. It also shows the distribution of accidents occurring on school journeys throughout the year. Figure Child Pedestrian Accidents by Month - South Gloucestershire School Journey Not School Journey Number of Accidents Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month 9
Figure shows the distribution of pedestrian accidents on school journeys by time of day. Figure Child Pedestrian Accidents on School Journeys by Time of Day - South Gloucestershire Number of Accidents -9 9-99 -9-9 -9-9 7-79 Time Child Pedestrian Accident Locations Table shows the locations of child pedestrians when they were involved in accidents. Table Child Pedestrian Accident Locations Child Pedestrian Location Number of Accidents - In road, crossing on pedestrian crossing facility In road, crossing within zig-zag lines approach to crossing In road, crossing within zig-zag lines exit to crossing In road, crossing elsewhere within m of pedestrian crossing 9 In road, crossing elsewhere On footway or verge In centre of road, not on refuge In road, not crossing Not known Total 7
Table shows child pedestrian accident locations by road class and speed limit. Table Child Pedestrian Accident Locations by Road Class and Speed Limit Road Class Speed Limit Total Number mph mph mph mph mph of Accidents A B Unclassified Total 7 Appendix shows the locations of child pedestrian accidents in South Gloucestershire over the period to. Conclusions: Child pedestrian casualty numbers generally increase with age, both in South Gloucestershire and in the country as a whole. In particular, casualty numbers rise significantly from age. Specific education, training and publicity activity aimed at children starting secondary schools will continue to be a high priority in South Gloucestershire. Males make up a large proportion of child pedestrian casualties in South Gloucestershire up to the age of, when the proportion of female casualties increases. Casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire are highest during the working week and between hrs and 7hrs. They also peak in November. % of school age child pedestrian casualties in South Gloucestershire occur on journeys to or from school. However few of these casualties occur in the immediate vicinity of schools (see Appendix ).Casualty numbers are significantly higher during the afternoon school run than the morning. Almost 9% of the child pedestrian accidents that occur on school journeys in South Gloucestershire involve children of secondary school age. Although the majority of child pedestrian casualties in South Gloucestershire occur away from crossing facilities, almost one quarter occur at or within m of a crossing facility. Almost three quarters of child pedestrian accidents occur on unclassified roads. Almost 9% of child pedestrian accidents occur on roads with speed limits of mph or less. Most child pedestrian accidents occur within the Bristol urban fringe area of South Gloucestershire. This will be borne in mind when formulating child casualty reduction programmes.
. Child Cyclists Figure shows the age and gender profile of child cyclist casualties. Figure Child Cyclist Casualties by Age and Gender - South Gloucestershire 9 Female Male 7 Number of Casualties 7 7 9 Age Figure shows how child cyclist casualties across age groups in South Gloucestershire compare with Great Britain. Full data for child casualties by road user group is not yet available for Great Britain as a whole. Figure Child Cyclist Casualties by Age Group South Gloucestershire and Great Britain 7% % 9% S Glos - GB 7 % % of Total Child Pedal Cyclist Casualties % % % % % % % % 9% % % % - -7 - - Age Group
Figures 7 and show the distribution of child cyclist accidents by time of day and day of week respectively. Figure 7 Child Cyclist Accidents by Time of Day - South Gloucestershire Number of Accidents -9 7-9 -9-9 -9 7-9 9-9 -9 Time Figure Child Cyclist Accidents by Day of Week - South Gloucestershire 9 Number of Accidents 7 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Day of Week
The School Journey Table shows an analysis of child cyclist accidents occurring on journeys to or from school for the years -. Table Child Cyclist Accidents - South Gloucestershire All Accidents involving - year old cyclists Accidents involving - year old cyclists on school journeys - years - years Total % on School Journey % Figure 9 shows the distribution of child cyclist accidents by month for the period -. It also shows the distribution of accidents occurring on school journeys throughout the year. Figure 9 Child Cyclist Accidents by Month - South Gloucestershire 9 School Journey Not School Journey 7 Number of Accidents Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month
Child Cyclist Accident Locations Table shows child cyclist accident locations by road class and speed limit. Table Child Cyclist Accident Locations by Road Class and Speed Limit Road Class Speed Limit Total Number mph mph mph mph mph of Accidents A B Unclassified Total Appendix shows the locations of child cyclist accidents in South Gloucestershire over the period to. Conclusions: Child cyclist casualty numbers generally increase with age, both in South Gloucestershire and in the country as a whole. In particular, casualty numbers rise significantly from age. Specific education, training and publicity activity aimed at children starting secondary schools will continue to be a high priority in South Gloucestershire. Males make up a very large proportion of child cyclist casualties in South Gloucestershire. Casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire are highest during the working week and between hrs and hrs. They also peak in June. % of school age child cyclist casualties occur on journeys to or from school in South Gloucestershire. However few of these casualties occur in the immediate vicinity of schools (see Appendix ) All but one of the recorded casualties on school journeys was of secondary school age. Most child cyclist accidents occur within the Bristol urban fringe area and the Yate areas of South Gloucestershire. This will be borne in mind when formulating child casualty reduction programmes. More than three quarters of child cyclist accidents occur on unclassified roads. Almost 9% of child cyclist accidents occur on roads with speed limits of mph or less.
7. Child Car Passengers Figure shows the age and gender profile of child car passenger casualties. Figure Child Car Passenger Casualties by Age and Gender - South Gloucestershire Female Male Number of Casualties 7 7 7 7 9 Age Figure shows how child car passenger casualties across age groups in South Gloucestershire compare with Great Britain. Full data for child casualties by road user group is not yet available for Great Britain as a whole. Figure Child Car Passenger Casualties by Age Group South Gloucestershire and Great Britain % % S Glos - GB 7 % % % of Total Child Car Passenger Casualties % % % % % 7% 9% % % % 9% % % % % - -7 - - Age Group
Figures and show the distribution of child car passenger casualties by time of day and day of week respectively. Figure Child Car Passenger Accidents by Time of Day - South Gloucestershire 7 Number of Accidents 9-9 7-9 9-9 -9-9 -9 7-9 9-9 -9 Time Figure Child Car Passenger Accidents by Day of Week - South Gloucestershire Number of Accidents 9 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Day of Week 7
Figure shows the distribution of child car passenger accidents by month for the period -. Figure Child Car Passenger Accidents by Month - South Gloucestershire 9 Number of Accidents 7 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month The School Journey Over the three year period to, only of the child car passenger casualties (%) recorded in South Gloucestershire occurred on a journey to or from school. Child Car Passenger Accident Locations Table 7 shows child car passenger accident locations by road class and Speed Limit. Table 7 Child Car Passenger Accident Locations by Road Class and Speed Limit Speed Limit Number of % of Road Class mph mph mph mph mph 7 mph Accidents Accidents Motorway 7% A 7 % B 7 % Unclassified 9 9 % Total 7 9 Appendix shows the locations of child car passenger accidents in South Gloucestershire over the period to.
Conclusions: Child car passenger casualty numbers generally increase with age, both in South Gloucestershire and in the country as a whole. Female car passenger casualty numbers (%) are slightly higher than males (%) in South Gloucestershire. Child car passenger casualty numbers in South Gloucestershire are highest between hrs and 7hrs and on Sundays. There is little seasonal variation in accidents involving injury to child car passengers. Only % of school age child car passenger casualties occur on journeys to or from school in South Gloucestershire. Over one quarter of child car passenger accident locations are on motorways, for which South Gloucestershire Council is not responsible.. Action Plan Efforts will be focused on child pedestrian and child cyclist casualty reduction in the areas where most of these casualties occur. These are the urban areas of South Gloucestershire that surround Bristol and the urban area of Yate. Road Safety Officers will deliver road safety messages to children starting their last term at primary school to make them aware of the significant rise in casualty numbers as they progress to secondary school. A Road Safety Officer will be tasked with dedicating her time to delivering road safety ETP to secondary school children, Cycle training will continue to be promoted to secondary school age children and expanded through the Cycle City Demonstration Project. Road safety efforts will be focused on schools which have had injury accident clusters in their vicinity involving children travelling to or from school. These schools are: o Downend Secondary, o Mangotsfield Secondary, and o The Grange Secondary. Road Safety Officers will deliver advice to parents to make them aware of the road safety risks to children. This will include issuing leaflets to parents as part of School Road Safety Days and cinema advertising aimed at parents. Road Safety Officers will re-issue schools with leaflets advising of the legal requirement to wear seat belts in cars. The Highways Agency will be asked to raise the awareness of car occupants about the need to ensure that children belt up in the back. 9
9. Traffic Calming Around Schools The Government s latest consultation document on making Britain s roads safer (A Safer Way) recommends that highway authorities: introduce mph zones or limits into streets which are primarily residential in nature, or other areas where pedestrian and cyclist movements are high (for example around schools or markets) and which are not part of any major through route. In the three year period to, of the accidents in South Gloucestershire involving school age child pedestrians or cyclists, (9%) occurred whilst children were travelling to or from school. Appendix shows the locations of these accidents relative to the schools in South Gloucestershire. It is evident that there are no accident clusters involving children travelling to or from school in the roads immediately surrounding most schools. Hence it would not be a cost effective casualty reduction measure to introduce traffic calming and mph zones around all schools. The following schools do, however, have child accident clusters of or more accidents around them: Downend School, Downend accidents on the Westerleigh Road ( pedestrians and cyclist). A Downend and Stanbridge safer routes to schools scheme was introduced on Westerleigh Road in two phases between / and /. This involved providing improved pedestrian crossing facilities on the road. The installation of physical traffic calming measures did not receive local support and was hence not pursued. All accidents occurred since the scheme was implemented. Mangotsfield School, Mangotsfield accidents in the Rodway Hill Road area (all pedestrians). A casualty reduction and route action scheme for Rodway Hill and a pedestrian safety scheme for St James Street/ Cossham Street have been included in the 9/ Capital Programme. These schemes will seek to address the accident problems identified. An advisory mph speed restriction operates outside the school at pupil arrival and departure times. The Grange School, Warmley accidents on Tower Road North ( cyclists and pedestrian), Improvements to the pedestrian crossing facilities outside the school have been made recently. This included the provision of a zebra crossing, pedestrian refuges and kerb build outs. The Road Safety ETP Team will focus on these schools for delivering road safety education and training. Advisory mph speed limits outside schools During /, experimental advisory mph speed limits were installed outside some schools in South Gloucestershire. Road signs, which were accompanied by flashing amber lights, advised road users that a mph speed limit should be adhered to at school pupil arrival and departure times. The Police do not enforce these advisory limits. Speed readings
taken both before and after the advisory speed limits were installed showed that an average th percentile speed reduction of approximately mph was achieved across all sites. It is not recommended that the use of advisory mph speed limits be extended, given that the signing is only advisory and the Police are unlikely to carry out enforcement. These advisory limits are being reviewed when other works are carried out in the area. Excessive speed and child accidents An analysis of data over the three year period to shows that of all the accidents involving child pedestrians or cyclists, none involved a driver of a motor vehicle who was travelling at an excessive or inappropriate speed, in the opinion of the police. This gives support to the statement above that it would not be cost effective to introduce traffic calming and mph zones around all schools.
Appendices: