The Great British Buggy Push-1st June
February 23rd, 2010
Parents urged to march for road safety
Brake, the national road safety charity, is calling for families across the UK to run a sponsored buggy push on Tuesday 1st June – International Children’s day – to raise awareness about the 2,807 number of children killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2008.
The Great British Buggy Push is an opportunity for new mums and dads to get out and about with their little ones in prams and pushchairs and help fund Brake’s support services for road crash victims. By running a buggy push on International Children’s day, parents will be joining forces with groups across the UK to highlight the appalling carnage that happens every year on UK roads.
The UK has one of the worst records in Western Europe for child pedestrian safety. Many communities suffer from fast drivers, a lack of safe crossing places, and narrow pavements that just aren’t ‘family friendly’ or, particularly in certain rural communities, no pavements at all, making it dangerous to get out with a buggy or young children on foot.
Katie Shephard, Fundraising Manager at Brake, says “Speeding and lack of road safety initiatives is a community problem that can be solved by communities. Often speeding drivers live in the same communities where they also speed, and are at risk of killing a child they know. Brake wants all parents to take part in a Buggy Push on International Children’s Day to remind drivers to slow down in residential areas and outside of schools.”
Lauren Tassell, took part in a buggy push in 2009, says “The buggy push I ran last year was a great opportunity to raise awareness about Brake and the importance of road safety. It’s imperative to keep children safe whilst out walking, and to teach them road safety skills. Please support Brake this year by coordinating your own buggy push – it’s a great event, the children loved taking part and drivers were reminded about the importance of slowing down around our homes.”
Every penny raised by the Great British Buggy Push will go towards Brake’s work to prevent death and injury on UK roads and to support people who have been bereaved or injured by a road crash. As well as working to make our roads safer for everyone, Brake is the national provider of support for families affected by road crashes, offering a helpline (0845 603 8570) and care literature. Go to www.brake.org.uk for more information.
For media enquiries call Katie Shephard at Brake on 01484 559909 or email kshephard@brake.org.uk
For more information about taking part in a buggy push or organising your own, please call Lisa Kendall on 01484 683294 or email lkendall@brake.org.uk
Brake is a national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the eight deaths and 79 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational literature, runs community training programmes and events including Road Safety Week (23-29 November 2009). Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources for fleet managers. BrakeCare, Brake’s support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline, face to face support and other services.
Tags: child safety, road safety
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