Although the UK traffic safety record is as good as that of most compatible countries, it has not kept pace with many other European countries in terms of accidents to pedestrians. The difference in risk between countries vary according to the age of the pedestrian. Both Netherlands and Germany have experienced much greater reductions in child pedestrian accidents compared with adults. Comparatively high fatality rates for UK child pedestrians are not reflected in the rates for cycling and passengers. The paper considers the reasons for the higher overall UK rate and why the rate for 10 to 14 year old children appears particularly high. Child accident rates in the major conurbations are some fifty per cent higher than the average for the UK. Causes for the improvements in accident rates in other countries being greater than those in the UK are also investigated. The paper also provides a background from which collaborative research on child pedestrian accidents can be undertaken within the FERSI programme. The paper was presented to the October 1992 FERSI conference in Berlin and this abstract appears also in IRRD 866105.
Samenvatting