AS CHILDREN start the new school year, we should stop to remind ourselves that “one school full” will not live to complete the year, according to Green Flag.

Every year around 200 children – the equivalent of a medium sized primary school – are killed in road accidents. Last year the number of children killed was 218, marking a 14 per cent increase on 2000. A further 4,768 were seriously injured, with the majority of those accidents happening in built up areas.

Figures for 2001 from the Department for Transport show that 167,173 accidents occurred on built up roads, with a speed limit of 40 or less, that's nearly three times as many as the 61,652 accidents on other roads.

Statistics also show the journey home from school creates the greatest danger to schoolchildren, with almost four times the number of children being killed or seriously injured as on the way there.

Nigel Charlesworth of Green Flag, said: “We believe speed is an issue here. The sheer number of vehicles on the roads in the morning rush hour means that drivers are forced to drive slower. With less traffic in the afternoon, drivers could be tempted to take advantage of less busy roads by speeding.”

A report on safe driving produced by Green Flag in conjunction with road safety charity, Brake, found 40 per cent of drivers admitting to breaking speed limits in built up areas, although the actual figure is believed to be much higher.

Green Flag is joining forces with Brake and other UK businesses to back Road Safety Week (September 23-29), a national campaign to reduce death and injury on British roads. The theme for this year is Safe Streets.

Materials to support the event can be downloaded from www.brake.org.uk which this year is sponsored by Green Flag.