The number of children injured on Huddersfield is down by almost one third.

A new study reveals that there has been a 29% reduction in child road injuries on Kirklees roads over the last 10 years.

The casualty toll has fallen from an average of 214 between 2005 to 2009 to 151 in 2014.

Staff obtained the figures by analysing data featured in Kirklees Council’s annual report on reported road casualties.

READ MORE:

They believe the findings put Kirklees on track to meet the government’s benchmark of halving the number of children injured in road traffic collisions by 2026.

Helen Grieves, founder and principal of Grieves Solicitors, who conducted the survey, said: “This is a real achievement for the borough.

“It highlights that the work being done by the council is having a positive effect in keeping children safer on our roads and reducing child injuries.”

Council training in Kirklees has been rolled out for children and parents, and includes road safety schemes for child cyclists and pedestrians to improve their skills and confidence.

Helen Grieves, founder of Grieves Solcitors in Huddersfield

“Kirklees has a tough job ahead of it as we roll into the summer months”, said Helen.

“As more children will be out and about as the weather gets warmer, the importance of understanding what to do to stay safe increases.

“Educating children about the importance of staying safe while crossing the road, and encouraging children to be more aware of traffic, is a step in the right direction when it comes to improving road safety as a whole.”

READ MORE:

In 2013, road safety charity Brake released statistics on the fixed penalty notices for careless driving and speeding offences for each postcode area in Huddersfield, which suggested that the HD2 area was the worst area for careless driving offences.

It found that 23 per cent of all Huddersfield offences occurred in Birkby, Brackenhall, Bradley, Deighton, Fixby and Sheepridge.

The HD8 postcode, which covers Clayton West, Denby Dale, Fenay Bridge, Kirkburton, Lepton, Scissett, Shelley, Shepley and Skelmanthorpe, has the largest number of speeding convictions in the Huddersfield postcode area, accounting for 18 per cent of the total offences.

“It is the actions of these inconsiderate and impatient drivers that are putting our children’s lives at risk”, said Helen.

Grieves Solicitors has put together a help sheet on how to stay safe on the roads, which can be found at: www.grieves-solicitors.co.uk/our-services/road-traffic-claims/staying-safe-road .