A BRADFORD school has set wheels in motion for traffic calming measures after a four-year-old boy was knocked down by a car near its gates this week.

The youngster was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary with a head injury after being hit by a silver Ford Focus car outside St Oswald’s Primary Academy, between Great Horton and Canterbury.

The incident occurred at 3.30pm on Wednesday.

The school headteacher, Gillian Wilson, says she has now set the ball rolling, calling for slower traffic speeds outside the school as well as other traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and a school crossing patrol person.

The current speed limit outside the school is 30mph.
Police confirmed a silver Ford Focus had hit a child and he had been taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment to a head wound.

Miss Wilson said the accident had been a shock and was thankful the little boy was going to be alright. She had phoned the parents on Thursday morning and they told her he was home and doing well.

“No one was to blame for the accident. The little boy was with his mother picking up siblings when he escaped her hand and went between parked cars.

“The driver of the car involved was fantastic. He managed to brake and swerve and though the little boy was hit, it could have been far worse.

“Everyone was amazing. Staff trained in first aid went immediately to help the little boy. They also attended his mother because she was in hysterics.

“Members of the public stopped to help and a couple of other car drivers and witnesses  stopped.

“The boy’s father was full of praise for everyone who had helped his wife and son and said he couldn’t thank school staff enough.

“We have wanted traffic calming measures there for a long time and I have now asked the Council to send a crossing patrol person up. They have also said they are going to organise a site survey for traffic calming before October.

“In school we have started doing an extra input into road safety.

“This incident has left everyone shock but the school staff were amazing running to help straight away as were members of the public.”

Miss Wilson said she was going to write to her local MP Judith Cummins to add extra strength to her call for traffic calming.

“The parents will help too. They are very pro-active. The father of the little boy says he is also keen to see measures introduced,” Miss Wilson added.

“We are so grateful that the little boy is going to be okay. We feel we are very lucky and don’t want it to happen again.”

Ward councillor Joanne Dodds (Labour, Great Horton), said: “It is a very busy road outside St Oswald’s and I will support Miss Wilson in her call for traffic calming measures to help make a safer environment for those using the school.”

Andrew Smith, Bradford Council's Principal Highways Engineer, said: “Having spoken to the school, we have agreed to visit the site and carry out investigations and possibly a survey to determine if any highways improvements are warranted.

"There is already a pedestrian crossing outside the school along with school warning signs and lines.”