2,100 children involved in road accidents in 2012

There were 2,103 children aged 6 to 12 years involved in traffic accidents in Belgium in 2012, Flemish broadcaster VTM announced last night, citing figures from the Belgian Institute for Road Safety (IBSR). Of these 2,103 children, 532 were cycling, 463 were and on foot and 959 were car passengers. The majority of accidents involving these young cyclists and pedestrians occurred in urban areas, while for car passengers most accidents took both in and outside urban areas. The ISBR figures also show that a further 7,500 to 9,000 minors were involved in traffic accidents in which they suffered serious or minor injuries. Between 2005 and 2012, the number of accidents involving cyclists aged under 18 decreased by 26%, while for young pedestrians and car passengers, the figure fell respectively by 9% and 16%.