Warning to Parents Over Mobile Phones as One in Five Children at Risk
One in five secondary school pupils have been hit or nearly missed by vehicles when on their phones, a survey suggests. Key points to note include:
– 84% of secondary pupils admit to using their phone when walking near roads.
– 18% have been hit by a vehicle or narrowly missed.
– 54% receive their first phone during the summer before secondary school.
– More than half of children start walking alone to school after leaving primary school.
– 10% of children had their eyes on their phones while crossing the road outside their school.
– 50% of pupils at a secondary school in Edinburgh were glued to their phones while crossing the road.
Churchill has launched a ‘Screen down, Eyes up’ campaign to raise awareness about the risks of using mobile phones when crossing roads. Their latest research found that:
– Approximately 1,200 children are injured in traffic-related incidents near schools each month.
– Over 95% of children aged 12-15 in the UK own a mobile phone.
– 69% of children feel so distracted on their phone while walking that they are unaware of their surroundings.
– 45% of students use their phones to scroll social media while walking.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jessamy Hibberd stressed the importance of grabbing children’s attention away from their phones for road safety. She recommended using bright contrasting colors, simple messages, and multiple attention alerts to increase awareness.
Ewan Robertson, head of news at Churchill, emphasized the need to divert attention away from screens for safety. He stated, “In today’s digital age, diverting attention away from the screen is a challenge, but one needed to ensure safety when walking.”
The survey conducted by Opinium included 2,000 11 to 16-year-olds and their parents, as well as 2,000 UK adults. Parents and schools have been urged to educate children on the safe use of mobile phones near roads, emphasizing the importance of staying alert and focused while walking.
This research highlights the dangers that mobile phones pose to children’s safety when crossing roads and the necessity for increased awareness and education on this issue.