80 children aged between the age of 6 and 11 are victims of a road accident in Wallonia each year, according to statistics communicated by the Walloon Agency for Road Safety (AWSR) on Wednesday.
Nearly 40% of road accidents involving child pedestrians take place between June and September, compared to 20% for teenagers and 29% for adults, the AWSR specifies.
The increase in accidents during the summer can be explained by an increased presence of children on the streets, typically when they go out to play on sunny days.
The agency also found that drivers are twice as likely not to spot children on the road: 80% of child road accidents with children occur when the driver fails to see the pedestrian; with fully grown adults this falls to 70%.
School children crossing the street in front of their school, in Gembloux. Credit: Belga / Olivier Hoslet
To improve child safety on Belgian roads, the Walloon agency advises against letting children under eight walk outside by themselves. Their high energy (often skipping and jumping) and reduced awareness mean that they have difficulty stopping suddenly.
The agency advises parents to walk often with their children in order to prepare them to be careful pedestrians and get them used to crossroads. Children should be taught how best to react when faced with an unforeseen obstacle. They should equally be praised for correct behaviour.
Related News
- One dead and three seriously injured in road accident near Bruges
- Cyclist deaths at decades-long high with more than 100 fatalities last year
It is important to point out potential dangers on any journey with a child, such as things to look out for before crossing the road, the ASWR notes. The Walloon agency says that parents should also teach children about their visibility on the roads, making sure they are dressed in bright clothing.
In 2021, 197 pedestrians under the age of 17 were killed in a road accident in the Brussels-Capital region, according to statistics from the Vias road agency. In the capital, child road casualties increased by 1.3% compared to 2019.
