Crash victim, 10, calls for safer school roads

Ten-year-old Roman delivered his letter to 10 Downing Street on Monday alongside his dad and MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter

A boy left injured after being hit by a van has delivered a letter to Downing Street calling for improved road safety near schools.

In February, Roman, 10, was crossing the road outside his school in Trimley St Martin near Felixstowe, Suffolk, when he was hit, suffering a fractured hip and bruising.

On Monday, he was invited by Labour Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter to deliver a letter to Downing Street in London calling for improved road safety outside schools.

Suffolk County Council said while Roman's school did not meet the criteria for a crossing patrol, child road safety was "paramount", while the Department for Transport (DfT) said its Road Safety Strategy was in development.

"While I was walking across the road, I was nearly there and in the corner of my eye on my left, I saw a white van coming toward me," Roman explained to BBC Radio Suffolk's Wayne Bavin on the day he was hit.

"Then it hit me. [I was] very petrified."

Roman said he was doing "much better", but still struggled with some pain in his hips and had been left "nervous" around roads.

Riddell-Carpenter began campaigning on the issue back in July

Roman's father, Ryan, said he was at work when his wife called to tell him about the crash.

"It was emotional, it was difficult, it was horrific, I never want it to happen again," he said.

"Seeing him lying in the road like that, I never want to see it again."

Roman delivered his letter to Downing Street at 15:00 GMT, and afterwards his father said he was so proud.

"It feels like it potentially might make a difference," he said.

"We're hoping something might happen following this, as you don't want to see another child get hit.

"It feels like it is a step in the right direction. [I'm] proud of Roman, he took the whole day in his stride, it was really good."

Roman added: "It was amazing and also a bit nervous when you go up to Number 10.

"We had a tour around Parliament, it was very confusing over if you get lost or not."

Roman said it had been a bit nerve wracking standing on the steps of Number 10

Riddell-Carpenter launched a campaign in July calling for "urgent action" to improve road safety outside schools as she felt children were at serious risk every day.

Last week, she delivered a speech to Parliament on the issue and said the government would release a road safety strategy in the new year.

A spokesperson for the council explained the crash Roman was involved in was the result of unsafe and illegally parked cars.

Vehicles had obstructed the driver's view, "leaving little time to react", they said, but the van was not speeding and no prosecutions followed.

"Irresponsible parking remains the most significant issue here, as vehicles stopping on double yellow lines and opposite the school create congestion and reduce visibility for drivers and pedestrians," they added.

"Enforcement is not the responsibility of the county council but we urge motorists to park responsibly, particularly near a school."

A spokesperson for the DfT added: "It's really important to keep children safe on and around our roads.

"That's why last year we introduced new guidance for councils on how they can make roads around schools safer for students to walk and cycle."

They added the THINK! campaign was also available to empower children "with the knowledge to stay safe".