SHOCK figures show that dozens of children have been hit by vehicles in the region in the last four years.

Data from the Department of Transport revealed that 23 children were hit by a car over a period of four years in Darlington, whereas in County Durham there were 83 such incidents.

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The data, revealed after analysis by insurers Churchill, showed 14 children were hit by vehicles over a four-year period in North Yorkshire.

Richmondshire saw six children hit by a vehicle, in Ryedale four and in Hambleton four.

Campaigners have said more needs to be done to educate youngsters about road safety after thousands of child pedestrians across Great Britain were hurt or killed in incidents between 2017 and 2020.

Primary school aged pupils made up 16 per cent of all 146 adult and child pedestrian casualties recorded by the DFT in 2017 to 2020 in Darlington.

In County Durham, primary school aged pupils made up 15 per cent of all 540 incidents.

Figures for County Durham showed that one incident involved a child casualty aged between four and 11, which happened in a 20 miles per hour zone.

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Kirsty Hoad, from Churchill, said the figures highlighted the importance of teaching road safety to children as early as possible.

She added: “With more than half of primary school children walking or cycling to school, this is one obvious area where children will need to know how to stay safe.

“We encourage everyone to take an active role in educating young children in their lives about road safety.”

Rod Dennis, from the RAC, called for more 20 miles per hour zones to be introduced around schools, saying physical traffic calming measures also played a part in making streets safer.

He added: “There is also a clear onus on drivers who use the car to drop off or pick up their children to think about their driving.”

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He said parents could send a positive message to others by walking and cycling to school or parking away from school gates.

A Department for Transport spokesman said any death on the road is “completely unacceptable” and said the Government is focusing on improving safety

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