ONE child is killed or injured every week on North Somerset roads, according to new statistics.

A RAC Foundation study showed that from 2010-2014, there were 259 casualties, aged 15 and under, in the district.

This equates to 52 children a year and prompted concerns from Mercury readers.

The figures sparked plenty of online debate this week, and Streetlife user Claire Mears said: “When schoolchildren leave down Mead Vale it’s horrible watching them just cross the road without a care in the world.

“They cross at the zebra crossing but most just walk out without looking and cars will always stop.”

Neil Bayliss, from road safety charity Weston and Mendip Advanced Motorists, believes education is key.

He said: “Unfortunately, road safety is not a compulsory part of our children’s education.

“Too long has road safety been a low priority to our council and their budgets.

“They must now address the balance and financially support measures that save lives.”

Angela Bromley reacted to a Facebook post and raised the question of the importance of lollipop people to assist children on the roads.

She said: “Maybe the council should reconsider and keep all the lollipop people, our children need all the help they can get crossing our busy roads.”

Neil Norton also felt this way and said: “Instead of cutting back on lollipop staff, bring them back. There should also be more speed cameras and strict limits. The way a minority of people drive is like they are at Silverstone.”

North Somerset Council insisted work is ongoing to combat the number of child casualties in the area.

A spokesman said: “We are currently developing a road safety strategy which will identify the types of education, training and publicity, enforcement and engineering measures needed to help reduce the casualty figures.

“As part of this, we aim to reduce the number of people injured or killed on our roads by 40 per cent by 2020, in line with national policy.

“We will also be completing over £127,000 of road improvements in 2016/17 which are directly related to road safety improvements – including road safety around schools.”

The number of child casualties in North Somerset is significantly more than in Sedgemoor and South Somerset with the statistics indicating 40 per cent more casualties over five years.

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