Coroner's call for schoolchildren to wear high-visibility jackets
A coroner has called for all children who walk to village schools to wear high-visibility jackets as a "matter of urgency" after a boy was killed on a country road.
Elliott Davies, 13, was struck by a car on the road from Glastonbury to the village of Wedmore as he waited for the school bus. The impact flung him into a roadside ditch.
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Elliot Davies was hit by a car as he waited for a school bus
An inquest into his death yesterday was adjourned after the police officer who investigated the incident agreed to re-examine his report, having heard medical evidence that Elliott was hit from behind.
The report into Elliot's death may now be sent back to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Coroner Michael Rose said he would tell Somerset County Council and the Department of Transport that children who have to walk to school on a public highway should wear reflective jackets.
He also said grave consideration should be given to building flashing lights in the country near areas where three or more children have to cross a highway to reach a school bus stop.
Elliott, a popular pupil at The Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar died instantly from multiple injuries when he was struck by a Citroen Saxo car as he waited for the school bus around 7.48am on January 7 this year.
The car was driven by Alexander Murray, of Cheddar, a 3D design engineer who was travelling to work at Clarks' headquarters at Street, with passenger and work colleague Mitchell Harvey, also of Cheddar.
PC Anthony Court, who examined the car and roadside, told the inquest the headlights had been on dipped beam but he did not think it was possible to tell whether Elliott, of Box Farm, Blakemore, near Wedmore, had been standing still or walking across or down the road to a junction where he always caught the bus.
But after hearing written evidence from pathologist Dr Huw White that an injury to Elliott's right leg showed he had been hit from behind, he agreed that he needed to re-examine, and possibly re-write his report, and re-submit it to the CPS. Mr Rose then adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.
Mr Rose described Elliott as: "A well-behaved and very likeable young man."
His mother, Miss Kirsty Turner, is raising funds for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance which flew Elliott to hospital. On Sunday she and friends will take part in a 10km fundraising run.
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by Rachael, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 3:33PM
“It's a good idea!
I used to live in a village where half the roads didn't even have pavements as they were all country lanes. Looking back, I can't believe no-one was killed.
Trudy - my condolences to you and your family.”
by Sue, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 3:25PM
“Tim not all drivers are driving fast as Trudy said and Cubist 20mph all sound good but it can not and will not work, just think for one min, How many cars are driven on the road with no car Tax or MOT or Insurance, the police cant catch them all there are to many. and when congestion charges every come in the no tax,MOT & insurance people will NEVER pay as we dont know who they are. I used to live near a road that was one way between 7am-10am it was at the bottom of my street so I had to go 1/2 mile round to get on the main road at the bottom of my street and while I was sat in the Q on the main road I would count the cars come out the one way street the wrong way it fact most of the time they were q ing to get out and yes the police would stand and wait to catch them and to right after I went 15 mins out my way and them other drivers never even lived in the area they used it as a short cut. so how the hell are the police ment to catch all cars that go over 20mph.
Yes hannah I think Hi vis on school coats shoule be brought in. I seen as boy on his bike going to school near me last week it was a dark sky when I looked along the road and he was all in black I never seen him till he was 2 cars away from me. Its the same with car drivers If they can see out the window ok and they can see other cars and people why should they use there lights........ BECAUSE OTHERS CANT ALWAY SEE YOU IN THE DARK not every one eats carrots.”
by Annette Hennessy, Portishead
Thursday, September 17 2009, 3:21PM
“To Tim in Bath, nobody was blaming the victim. The coroner's suggestion of high visibility clothing would be for the benefit of drivers and children in preventing tragic injuries and deaths on the roads. Back in the seventies, free reflective armbands were issued to children, particularly in the autumn when the clocks went back. In those days, dark or black coats may have been part of the regulation school uniform, but were not as compulsory or enforced as they are today by our primary and secondary schools. The need is there so re-issuing standard reflective armbands and strips cannot hurt and they may actually save a life. This move is not wrapping children up in cotton wool - it is plain common sense.”
by hannah, bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 2:47PM
“actually it wouldnt be a bad idea to make all school children wear hi vis jackets!!! trhey can somehow incorporate it in with the school uniform!!”
by Trudy, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 10:22AM
“Tim,and Cubist, both of you are talking rubbish,last year my Nephew aged 6 was knocked down by a car,and was killed instantly,the car involved was being driven at 15 mph and was in 2nd gear, having just pulled away,this speed being confirmed by an off duty police officer who happened to be behind the car at the time,Jimmy ran into the road between parked vehicles.”