New research has revealed that child pedestrians in Scotland are two-and-a-half times more likely to suffer injury than adults.

The study, which was carried out by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, found that children from deprived areas were the group most at risk of suffering personal injury in a pedestrian accident; with the rate of injury three times higher than for those living in more well-off areas.

Interestingly, the casualty rate among cyclists is actually higher in affluent areas than it is in poorer areas; however, the researchers suggested that this might be because of the greater popularity of cycling in these areas.

The good news, however, was that the rate of pedestrian accident injury has fallen steadily over the past ten years. But, it is true that a great deal more needs to be done to improve pedestrian safety rates in deprived areas of Scotland, particularly in urban areas.

Bruce Whyte, one of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health study authors, commented, "Safety and perception of risk on our roads are key issues that we need to address if we are to encourage more people to walk and cycle in our communities.

"We need multiple concurrent approaches to create a safer and more conducive environment for active travel: investment in safe, well-designed and integrated infrastructure; area speed restrictions; better road maintenance; road user training; behaviour change campaigns; and neighbourhood design which enables safe walking, cycling and play."

If you have sustained personal injury in a pedestrian accident, click here for more information from Thompsons Solicitors, Scotland's leading personal injury firm.