Bad drivers 'intimidate' children

Drivers on both rural and urban roads are criticised

Children feel intimidated by speeding and bad drivers in Wales, new research from Barnado's has claimed.

Almost 200 children a year are injured on Welsh roads each year, according to the report compiled with Transport 2000.

Other children are said to feel they are being prevented from playing in their own neighbourhoods, or are even being forced to stay indoors.

The study found the poorest children were at the most risk of being injured.

Barnado's and Transport 2000 are now calling for urgent action.

They want more speed cameras, reduced speed limits in residential areas and near schools and more investment in driver education.

High risk

In 2003, 3,224 children under 15 years old were killed or seriously injured on the UK's roads.

The report also found that children in deprived areas were five times more likely to be injured.

This was partly because they are more exposed to traffic and have less access to play facilities.

Children aged between 7-14 in Newtown and Cardiff were questioned as part of the Stop, Look and Listen report.

Fear of dangerous roads is causing children to spend less and less time outside their homes Vikki Butler, Barnado's Cymru

Barnardo's Cymru researcher Vikki Butler said the dangers of the roads were a problem right across Wales.

"When we think of traffic we often think of towns and cities," she said.

"However, these problems also affect children in rural areas.

"Some of the children we talked to in mid Wales said that, although there was not a lot of traffic in their area, the cars that did pass were travelling really fast.

"Children have a right to feel safe walking, cycling and playing in their own neighbourhoods.

"Fear of dangerous roads is causing children to spend less and less time outside their homes.

"We want the government to act now to ensure that children get the positive childhoods they deserve."

Transport 2000 is an independent national body which seeks answers for transport problems across the UK.