UK is lagging on child road safety

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The Government needs to set separate targets for those killed and those seriously injured on the roads, the report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said.

The Department for Transport (DfT) needs to work with a number of different organisations to meet its road safety objectives, the report said.

The report - Improving Road Safety For Pedestrians And Cyclists In Great Britain - said the DfT was on track to meet its 2010 road safety targets.

But the NAO said that while Britain was fifth overall for the least number of road deaths per head of population internationally, it was only 11th out of 24 in the developed OEDC countries for pedestrian deaths, with the latest figures being for 2006.

For child pedestrian deaths Britain ranked 17th, some way behind the best. Out of 14 European countries in 2006, Britain had the fourth least cyclist deaths.

Compared with figures for the mid-1990s, there has been a slower rate of decline in road deaths (18%) than serious injuries (37%).

The report said: "To increase transparency, the DfT should set separate targets for those killed and seriously injured and for different road user groups. To meet its road safety objectives, the DfT needs to work with a number of different organisations.

NAO head Tim Burr said: "Making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists is a key element in encouraging people to walk and cycle more. While their safety has improved generally, some are more vulnerable, such as child pedestrians from deprived areas.

"The DfT needs to draw on its research programme and the lessons learned from the projects that it funds to find ways of improving safety, especially for groups most at risk."