MP SUPPORTS ROAD SAFETY WEEK

The number of deaths and serious casualties on Stockport’s roads are decreasing.

Ann Coffey MP will release Department of Transport figures during a visit to St Bernadette’s school in Brinnington on Friday November 9 to highlight National Road Safety Week.

Thousands of Stockport children are making
journeys to and from schools in much darker conditions since the clocks went back last month.
Ms Coffey will urge pupils to wear bright reflectors when walking to and from school.

By wearing a reflector a child pedestrian is visible at 150 metres with low beam headlights compared to only 30 metres without one.

The Department of Transport figures show that in Stockport the number of child fatal or serious casualties fell from an annual average of 16 in the four year period 1994-98 to 10 in 2006 - down 38 per cent.

Over the same period the number of fatal and serious casualties amongst the whole Stockport population fell from 111 to 79 – down 29 per cent.

There were 1,044 road casualties in Stockport in 2006 – down by 35 per cent from 1,596.

Ms Coffey said: “We are pleased that the rates are coming down in Stockport but there is still much to do and we will not be happy until there are no children killed and hurt on our roads.

“It is important for children to be conscious of road safety as an early age and that is why I wanted to highlight Road Safety Week.”

Last month in the Commons, Ms Coffey praised road safety officers in Stockport for the great work they do in raising awareness about road safety in schools and nurseries and for their tireless efforts in identifying and tackling casualty hot spots.