21 children injured on local roads in 2023

New figures from road safety charity Brake show 21 children were injured on Forth Valley roads in 2023.

6 of these suffered serious injuries.

They're now calling for lower speed limits on roads where children travel to and from school.

271 children aged 4-11 were harmed on Scottish roads in 2023. 

That includes three children who died and 83 who were seriously injured.

Luca Straker, campaigns manager at Brake, said: “We all want children to be able to travel to and from school safely. But, sadly, every day, more than 16 primary schoolchildren are harmed on our roads. We know that excess speed is a factor in about a quarter of fatal crashes – and the physics is pretty straightforward: the faster a vehicle is travelling, the harder it hits and the greater the impact.

“We have good evidence to show that by lowering the speed limits on our roads, we reduce the risk of people being harmed. In September 2023, the Welsh Government took a bold step in reducing the default speed limit on roads in built-up and residential areas to 20mph. Within the first year, collisions on these roads had reduced by 26%.

“Our research also shows us that people want 20mph speed limits around their homes and their children’s schools. Slow traffic means safer journeys for children. We must do everything we can to keep our children safe!”