Child accident rate 'among worst'

Medway Council is launching an anti-speeding publicity campaign

The Medway towns are among the worst in the country for road accidents involving children, according to a new report.

Figures released on Monday by road safety charity Brake show there have been 242 accidents involving children in Medway over three years, of which 41 were serious and one fatal.

Excluding London, Medway has the third worst total in the whole of southern England and Wales.

Medway Council, which is launching an anti-speeding publicity campaign in January, says it is trying to tackle the problem.

I don't drive their cars, I don't cross their roads - so they must take responsibility for themselves Keith Hanshaw, Medway Council

But it said drivers had to take some of the responsibility themselves.

The council hopes to encourage more parents to walk their children to school, thus reducing the number of cars on the roads.

Among Medway's accident blackspots are the streets around Princes Avenue, in Walderslade, where there have been 55 accidents in five years.

Parent Denise Benn, of Walderslade, said: "The lollipop ladies take their lives in their own hands when they step out to stop some of the vehicles.

Protect children

"They just speed down, they speed up the hill. That's why they have had to extend the barriers to protect children when they're coming out and to and from school."

Medway Council has spent £150,000 on road safety measures in the area, including pelican crossings and vehicle activated signs telling drivers to slow down.

Keith Hanshaw, of Medway Council, said: "A lot of people say what is Medway Council doing about the problem - and the fact is that Medway Council spends a lot of money on road safety.

"However, people need to take responsibility themselves.

"I don't drive their cars, I don't cross their roads - so they must take responsibility for themselves."