Compulsory road safety education in schools

At present it is down to the schools and local councils to provide its own road safety scheme for children, it is not a mandatory requirement.   The Department for Transport in association with the Scottish Executive had gained some success with their Kerbcraft project, but funding has now been withdrawn.

The DIA also said that children should be taught road safety from the age of 5, adding that some of the income from speeding fines should be invested in road safety education programs in schools. Eddie Barnaville chief executive of the DIA said "The balance of targeting drivers and educating children in road safety needs to be realigned. The government must act fast or child road death figures next year will be even worse." He also made reference to the governments plans to introduce 20mph speed limits on roads around schools and in built up areas but commented that this is aimed solely at drivers, and will not teach children not to cross roads in unsafe places.

All road accidents need to be reduced, not just those resulting in fatalities. Non-fatal pedestrian accidents also need reducing, and would also benefit from road safety education in schools.