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The British Government Urges Children to Be Safe and Be Seen This Winter

782 Child Pedestrians Were Killed or Injured in the Region During 2003 

25 October, 2004

With the clocks going back [next] weekend¹ and the weather worsening, children are being urged to stay visible on the roads as part of the government's annual Be Safe Be Seen campaign.

With over 900 children killed or seriously injured on Great Britain's roads in the winter months of 2003, the government is reminding youngsters that not only is it important to be seen after dark, but also in bad weather, when drivers may not be able to see as clearly. For maximum visibility, fluorescent or bright clothing should be worn in the daytime and reflective material should be worn at night.

Ipswich-based CBeebies² presenter Sue Monroe said: 

     "It's so important for parents to help their children to Be Safe and Be Seen when they're out at this time of year. Make sure when the weather's bad, or it's dark, your children are wearing fluorescent clothes by day and reflective gear at night. It can make all the difference."

Professor Jimmie Thomson, child psychologist from the University of Strathclyde, said:

     "Often children don't have a well-developed road sense and can assume that drivers will be able to see them when they're walking or cycling because [the children] can see the vehicles."

Road Safety Minister David Jamieson said:

     "The number of children killed and seriously injured on our roads is falling every year, but we do need to be extra careful in the winter months when driver visibility is poor. It's as important to be visible in mist, rain and fog as it is after dark. Be Safe, Be Seen this year is about encouraging parents to make sure their children have both fluorescent and reflective clothing to ensure they can be seen whatever the conditions. And at the same time drivers also need to take care and look out for children."

It is against the law to cycle after dark without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back. Fluorescent jackets that have reflective strips across them also help children to stay visible when out on their bicycles in the day or in the evening.

The government is attempting to reduce child death and injury on the roads by 50 per cent by 2010 compared to the 1994-1998 average. In 2003 the number of children killed or seriously injured [was already down] by 40 per cent against the baseline.

Source: UK Department for Transport News Release (DfT153/E/04)

DSA Footnotes:

1.  For people living in or near the tropics -- where the following generally does not apply -- we should explain that the UK is one of several countries where clocks are put forward by one hour during summertime (so that 2am becomes 3am, for example) and are put back back to standard time before winter. The result is that when the clocks are "put back", in autumn/fall, it suddenly gets dark an hour sooner, according to the clock. The further away from the tropics one lives, the more pronounced this effect becomes as the days get progressively shorter, up to the winter solstice. Research in several countries is strongly suggesting that "putting the clocks back" for winter -- and the resultant arrival of darkness one hour sooner -- is a significant factor in higher rates of crashes and fatalities involving not only vehicle occupants but also child pedestrians and bicyclists who are still on their way home from school at the relevant times.

2.  CBeebies is a television show for children.