Summer 2008

Time for a go slow

UK motorists are being urged to stage a “go slow” this summer.

Breakdown service Autonational Rescue is making a plea for motorists to watch out for children during the school holidays.

Said Ronan Hart, Autonational Rescue’s marketing manager: “It’s an annual plea for motorists to watch out for children - but that doesn’t make it any less important.  If people listen, slow down just a little this summer and save just one child’s life, then it’s more than worth it!”

In fact, research shows that if motorists slowed down by just ONE measly mph from their ‘normal’ speed on each journey, then up to 70 deaths and 4,000 injuries could be avoided on Britain’s roads each year.

Research shows that:
At over 50 mph the chance of a child surviving a collision with your car is negligible.
At 40 mph, the vast majority - nineteen out of every twenty children hit by a car or lorry - are still killed.
At 30 mph, there is an 80% chance of a child’s survival.
And at 20 mph, the worst statistics are dramatically reversed.  On average, nineteen children survive and one dies.

What’s more, deceptively quiet residential side streets are the most common death traps for kids – with more than 300 killed each year on British roads. Added Ronan: “It’s a tragedy on a dreadful scale, but individual drivers can do something about it. Make sure that you are the one with the road sense when you see youngsters at the roadside, and always try to be ready for the unexpected,” added Ronan Hart.

Although there’s still room for improvement, Britain actually has one of the best road safety records in Europe with six road deaths per 100,000 population per year (compared with more than 19 in Greece, 16 in Portugal and 13 in Spain).

Autonational Rescue is the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, for more information visit www.autonational.co.uk or call 08459 100 345.

Ends

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Issued by: CPR Works Ltd
Contact: Roger Eversley/Jenny Carr
Tel: 01902 680068
E-mail: info@cpr.co.uk
Web: www.cpr.co.uk