FEWER children are being killed or seriously injured on Lancashire’s roads, according to newly released figures.

The latest statistics show the number of youngsters being seriously or fatally hurt in accidents has dropped 12 per cent with 131 children killed or seriously injured on Lancashire’s roads in 2008, compared to 149 in 2007.

The latest Department for Transport figures show 18 fewer children have come to harm on the county’s roads.

They also show a seven per cent drop in serious road injuries and deaths across all ages in Lancashire, from 1,000 incidents to 929. The statistics cover pedestrians, cyclists and car users.

Leading national child safe-ty product experts Clippasafe called for continued prevent-ative measures.

Managing director Roger Cheetham said: “It’s good to see the number is going down.

“However, even one injury is too many, so continual awareness of road safety is needed to help protect children in Lancashire.”

These figures follow a recent report from the National Audit Office, which ranked Britain as the eighth worst developed nation for child casualties, yet only 14th worst for adults.

The Lancashire Telegraph joined forces with road safety groups in August to launch a child seatbelt campaign after shockingly complacent attitudes were revealed in a major survey.

More than half of children questioned in the area were not strapped in by their parents.

Experts say that at just 30mph an unrestrained child would be thrown forward with a force 30 to 50 times their body weight, putting its life in danger.