The Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT) has identified road traffic collisions as the leading cause of acquired brain injury (ABI) in the children they support across the UK in the last 12 months, making up 20 per cent of all referrals throughout the country.
Of the charity’s referral figures, falls were second at 16 per cent of referrals and tumours third, at 14 per cent.
These figures, released by the charity during its flagship awareness raising week, GloWeek have led to them renewing calls for increased road safety and vigilance from vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, particularly during the winter months.
CBIT experiences their highest number of referrals as a result of road traffic collision during winter, with 27% of road traffic collision referrals in the last five years occurring between October and December.
The charity’s GloWeek campaign highlights the importance of being seen at night in order to increase road safety. Timed to coincide with the clocks going back and their road traffic collision referral rates going up, the campaign aims to reduce the number of road traffic collisions sustained by children by asking those most vulnerable on the roads to don brightly coloured clothing during trips out, increasing their visibility to other road users.
On Wednesday 2nd November, the charity met with MPs in order to highlight the importance of their message. Blaydon MP Liz Twist sponsored the charity as they hosted a drop in at Parliament.
Lisa Turan, chief executive officer, Child Brain Injury Trust, commented:
“I’m delighted that MPs have shown their support for our campaign. Our referral statistics very clearly point to a need to emphasise the importance of road safety and protect the most vulnerable amongst us. Sadly there are some motorists who still don’t pay due care and attention when it comes to road awareness and that’s why our message of ‘Be Seen, Not Hurt’ is so important.
“Every day, my team and I see the fallout that road traffic collisions cause when they result in a childhood acquired brain injury and we are committed to reducing the damage done to pedestrians and cyclists through our campaign work. This doesn’t stop with today’s meetings and I am so heartened that MPs have been inspired to take our message back to constituents and to support us.”
For press enquiries, please contact:
Danielle Gibson, Head of Fundraising and Marketing
07881 706 975 | daniellegibson@cbituk.org
About the Child Brain Injury Trust:
Established in 1991, the Child Brain Injury Trust is the leading voluntary sector organisation providing emotional and practical support, information and learning opportunities for families and professionals affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK.
The charity delivers its service via a national network of acquired brain injury coordinators, counsellors and an extended network of stakeholders providing families it supports with practical, financial and legal advice. Its work is conducted in clinical settings, in the homes of the families supported by the charity and in schools with a child with an acquired brain injury.
It also has a market-leading app, CBIT In Hand, a digital health intervention which provides vital support and signposting services for families whose child has an acquired brain injury.
For more information visit www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk