Children's Express reporters ask young people from the West End of Newcastle about how dangerous the roads are around them.
| To cross the road you have to use your loaf and be more responsible. |
Amy Bell, 14, Cowgate
I cross by the traffic lights but cars still go through them. The road near my school is dangerous because it has stationary traffic on one side and cars pulling up to pick up their kids on the other - cars have to overlap others to get passed. There was a young person knocked down by our school a long time ago who had a broken pelvis because she tried to cross between the cars, so I always use the traffic lights. It's not worth the risk.
Ponteland Road is the most dangerous one because it's like a motorway and the main way to the airport. I have to live around here and know of lots of accidents that happen so it makes you think that one-day it could be you. I think its both the driver's responsibility to drive properly and people to make sure they use the lights. Even though the green man is on you should still look both directions before you cross. You should not take a risk with your life.
Lisa Taylor, 15, Blakelaw
I live near a roundabout where there are loads of joy riders and buses that turn round a sharp corner so you have to watch that you don't get run over. It's difficult to cross because there are no traffic lights there and just to get to a shop I have to walk a distance to make sure its safe. I know of a kid that ran across the road and got knocked down. To cross the road you have to use your loaf and be more responsible.
 Children says traffic on Tyneside can be a dangerous pain in the neck. Photo © FreeFoto.com | |
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Ponteland Road is the most dangerous because there have been a canny few people run over and sometimes I do take a risk when crossing the road. It's the drivers' responsibility because before school and after they have to know that there are going to be big groups of kids about. I don't think you can change safety on roads because if you look at the adverts on television where it shows a child getting killed, drivers still don't slow down.
Rebecca Slade, 12, Cowgate
I think Ponteland Road in Cowgate is dangerous so I always use the traffic lights. The roads by my school are safe and there have been no accidents. Its your own responsibility when it comes to road safety although I think there should be more lights on all main roads because they are always busy.
Mandy Park, 12, Cowgate
Ponteland Road is dangerous because I live near the roundabout and you have four roads turning into each other. I either walk for miles to the traffic lights or I take a risk crossing the road. There was a car crash near me because a kid ran across the road and caused the crash but the car was speeding anyway.
It's everybody's responsibility to make sure they are safe because we can walk the distance to the crossing. It could be made safer by having signs put up on the sides of roads warning drivers to slow down and also to have speed cameras. All the roads by me are dangerous.
Christie Newby, 12, Cowgate
The most dangerous road I know of is Ponteland Road. I know of loads of people who have been killed on it. I always make sure I cross by the traffic lights. Someone died recently crossing over the road. On the way to school to cross the road we use a lollypop man.
I don't think there are many safe roads at all and it's the responsibility of roadwork people to make sure they are all safe and have plenty of ways for people to cross. If I had the chance I would put more traffic lights on all of the roads to make them safer.
About the team
Interviews by Carly Storey and Samantha Stephenson, 13. Junior Jury is a weekly column in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
