PARENTS are to be targeted to teach their children road sense in a bid to cut down the number of deaths.

A new Lancashire Police Authority report blamed the bulk of serious injuries or deaths of children on a lack of road sense.

Despite the high-profile Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety campaign, backed by local authorities throughout the county, more children are running out into the road, it said.

The report also said serious and fatal injuries were being caused to children who had not been properly restrained.

Lancashire Police Authority is set to target parents in a bid to slash the figures.

The report states: "Consultation suggests that effective road safety education is required to address the problem.

"With the changes in society, such as working mothers and the greater use of the car, many children have very little opportunity to take walks with their parents and acquire the skills that are necessary for safe road use.

"The Road Policing Unit is developing an initiative which involves health visitors talking to new parents about in-car safety and their responsibilities in assisting their children to become safe road users."

The report said the number of children involved in a fatal collision on the county's roads had risen by 60 per cent compared with figures the year before. The biggest increase comes in the 11 to 13 age bracket.