Action to make roads safer urgently needed say Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats

11.59.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 10th May 2009

A report from the National Audit Office has found that the UK is 17th out of 24 developed nations in terms of the number of child pedestrians killed every year. The report also pointed out that the numbers of cyclists killed or seriously injured rose by 11% between 2004 and 2007.

The report focuses on action taken by the Department for Transport. However, there are things Kent County Council could do to improve road safety in Kent. Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats are calling on Kent Highways to adopt the following measures:

1. Introduce 20 mph speed limits in residential areas. The Department for Transport's own research shows that 20mph zones "can reduce accidents involving pedestrians by 63% and cyclists by 29%".

2. Ensure the road surfaces are regularly maintained to reduce the number and size of potholes. These cause drivers and cyclists to swerve, often without warning, significantly increasing the risk of serious accidents.

Guy Voizey, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats, said, "The National Audit Office has highlighted how our roads have become more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists since 2004. Their report also indicates that child pedestrians from deprived areas are among the most vulnerable road users. For too long, Kent Highways have failed to repair our roads and pavements. Action is needed now to make our roads safer, to encourage people to walk and cycle whenever possible."