Kids fail to detect cars travelling faster than 20mph

A new study has found that the inability of children to judge the speed of cars traveling at more than 20mph means they are at greater risk of being run down.

The study by academics at Royal Holloway College, London University, has shown that they may be unable to even detect approaching cars, reports The Telegraph.

"Children's perceptual limitations place them at greater risk of stepping in front of cars traveling at higher speeds," the study said.

"Driving over 20mph in a residential or school area not only increases the potential severity of any impact, but also increases the risk that a child will injudiciously cross in front," the study added.

According to the latest casualty figures released by the department for transport, 1.655 pedestrians under 15 were killed or seriously injured in 2009.

Prof John Wann, one of the authors of the report said the study boost the case for slowing traffic down to 20mph in residential areas.

 "There's strong evidence that children may make risky crossing judgements when vehicles are traveling at 30 or 40mph," Wann said.

"The vehicles that they are more likely to step in front of are the faster vehicles that are more likely to result in a fatality, " he said.