THE NUMBER of children killed or injured as pedestrians across towns in Worcestershire has been revealed with two districts reporting double figures within a 12-month period.
A new investigation by Personal Injury Claims UK (PICUK) analysed figures from 304 local authority districts across England, finding an overall rise of 16% in the country.
A total of 54 child pedestrian deaths and injuries were recorded in Worcestershire, the latest figures from the Department for Transport show. In 2021, there were 25 child casualties which rose by 16% to 29 the following year.
“No child should die as a pedestrian or indeed be injured in any way through no fault of their own,” said Road Accident specialist at PICUK, Mike Higgins.
Of the six local authority areas in Worcestershire, the majority reported a rise in figures between 2021 and 2022. Worcester had the most child fatalities and injuries, reporting 13 in total over the two-year period.
But the biggest rises were seen in both Redditch and Wyre Forest where figures doubled in just 12 months.
Researchers at Personal Injury Claims UK found a staggering 33,212 children were killed or injured on roads in England between 2021 and 2022 – that is an average of 49 child road casualties every day.
The number of children (aged 0-15) who were killed or injured as pedestrians rose from 15,366 in 2021 to 17,846 in 2022 – an increase of 16 per cent.
Bromsgrove totaled seven children injured or killed between 2021 and 2022. Malvern recorded eight, Redditch recorded nine, Worcester recorded 13, Wychavon had five and Wyre Forest recorded 12.
Out of 304 local authority district areas in England, the majority (57 per cent) recorded an increase in child fatalities and injuries caused by road vehicles. 27 areas recorded the same figures in both years.
Road traffic accident specialist at Personal Injury Claims UK, Mike Higgins said: “These figures are extremely concerning. Children are particularly vulnerable to potential dangers on the roads.
“We hope these figures highlight the necessary concerns and spark action into ensuring pedestrians, particularly children, are safe.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport confirmed that figures are not currently available for the years 2023 and 2024.
