ROAD users are urged to slow down and look out for each other, particularly at this time of year when collision are most likely.

Statistics released by Road Safety GB North East show pedestrians are most likely to be involved in a road collision in the weeks before Christmas, with children accounting for a third of casualties.

Drivers are asked to cut their speed around schools, playgrounds, shopping centres and pubs while people on foot are reminded to use pedestrian crossings where possible, not take chances and wear bright clothes.

Almost a third of accidents happen between October and December, with 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm the most prevalent times of day. Children, especially boys aged 11 and 12, are the most likely to be injured and almost a quarter of adult pedestrian casualties were impaired by alcohol.

Between 2011 and 2015, 88 pedestrians were killed on the region’s roads and more than a thousand were left seriously injured. The highest number of casualties were in County Durham and Newcastle.

Chairman of RSGB NE Paul Watson said: “We want everyone to slow down and to take a few extra seconds to look out for each other. We know casualty figures for pedestrians are steadily coming down, but we would like to see them reduce even further.”