'I'm terrified of crossing this road and we need speed cameras'

Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi Image source, South Yorkshire Police
Image caption,

Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi was walking down Staniforth Road in Sheffield when he was hit by a car

  • Published

Residents living by a road in Sheffield where a boy died after being hit by a car while walking on the pavement are demanding measures to make it safer.

Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi died in hospital after the collision on Staniforth Road in the Darnall area of the city in June. Two men have been charged with his murder.

Later the same month, a woman and her son were struck by a car while using a pedestrian crossing nearby. She suffered a triple leg break.

A petition for more speed cameras has now been signed by more than 800 people. Sheffield City Council said Staniforth Road had been included in their Local Safety Scheme and part of it had been identified for further investigation.

Media caption,

CCTV footage shows the moment a woman and her son were struck while crossing Staniforth Road

Zara Ali, whose mother was injured on the pedestrian crossing in an incident that was captured on CCTV, said the collision had traumatised the whole family.

"After I saw the CCTV I was really scared to think that that could happen to anybody. You can see how the car nearly went through her head. It made me extremely paranoid."

South Yorkshire Police said a 20-year-old woman had been reported on summons for driving without due care and attention and driving without insurance in relation to the incident.

The side profile of a young Asian woman wearing a black head dressImage source, Mark Ansell / BBC
Image caption,

Zara Ali, whose mother was struck by a car while crossing Staniforth Road in June

People living near Staniforth Road said it was a "death trap" because of the increasing number of dangerous driving incidents.

Road safety campaigner Shama Abdaljawwad, who set up the petition, said she was scared to walk along it.

She said: "I'm terrified on that road in case I'm crossing it, even on green lights. I need something to reassure me that I'll be safe and I know that enforcement cameras will do that."

Campaigner Shama Abdaljawwad standing on the pavement of Staniforth Road in Sheffield. She's smiling and is wearing gold earrings and a cream scarf.Image source, Mark Ansell / BBC
Image caption,

Shama Abdaljawwad said she was scared to walk along Staniforth Road

Sheffield City Council said the findings of its investigation and the available budget would determine what safety measures could be implemented and where.

A council spokesperson said the authority was "committed to improving road safety across the city and we understand the urgency and concern expressed by local residents".

They said the section between Attercliffe Road and Balfour Road had been identified for further investigation.

A vehicle activated sign alert drivers to their speed and collect data would also be installed, they added.

After Abdullah Al Yazidi's death, Zulkernain Ahmed, 20, and Armaan Ahmed, 26, both of Locke Drive in Sheffield, were each charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

They are due to stand trial at Sheffield Crown Court in January 2026 and have been remanded in custody.

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