As Bank Holiday weekends and half-term breaks arrive, residential streets across the UK are set to fill with the familiar chaos of bouncing footballs, scooters weaving between pavements, and children spilling out into the warm air. It is a seasonal shift that brings life to neighbourhoods, but also a sharp reminder of how quickly everyday play can drift into danger when roads are part of the landscape.
Leading breakdown provider Start Rescue is urging both drivers and families to stay alert, particularly as mobile phone use becomes an increasingly common distraction among young pedestrians. According to figures highlighted by the organisation, one in five children aged 15 or under has been involved in a collision or near miss with a vehicle while looking at a mobile phone.
It is a statistic that reframes a familiar scene: a child stepping off a curb, eyes locked not on the road ahead, but on a glowing screen. During school holidays, when routines loosen and outdoor time increases, that split-second distraction can become critical.
Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue, stresses that safety begins with awareness on both sides of the road. “Warm weather and a school holiday means many kids come out to play by the roadside,” he says. “They should be able to do that in complete safety, but we also need to remind them to look up, especially from their mobile phones, when near the road or crossing it so they are not distracted.”
Children, particularly those under 12, are still developing the cognitive ability to judge speed, distance and risk. In a busy street environment, that means a car approaching at speed may not register as immediate danger, especially if attention is divided.
The consequences are stark. In 2024 alone, 20 child pedestrians aged 15 or under were killed on UK roads, while a further 1,253 were seriously injured. Behind each number is a moment that unfolded too quickly, often in environments assumed to be safe.
Drivers, too, are being asked to adapt their behaviour during these high-risk periods. Residential roads, especially during school holidays, require a more cautious approach as children are more likely to appear unexpectedly from between parked cars, driveways or pavements.
“At 30mph, a child is more than three times as likely to be killed or seriously injured than at 20mph,” Puffett adds. “It pays to foresee dangerous situations in advance when you see children not concentrating near a road, whilst slowing down to give yourself and them more time to react.”
The message is not only about speed, but anticipation. Holiday driving often means navigating streets that behave less like transit routes and more like shared play spaces, where unpredictability is part of the environment.
Start Rescue, part of the Call Assist family, provides breakdown cover across the UK and Europe and has built a strong reputation for reliability and customer satisfaction. The organisation has achieved Which? Recommended Provider status for seven consecutive years, a record unmatched in the vehicle recovery sector.
It is also recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader, reflecting its continued adherence to consumer protection standards. With a 4.7-star Trustpilot rating, a five-star Defaqto rating for its 3 Star policy, and a top ranking in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024, Start Rescue’s credentials underline its position as a trusted name in roadside assistance.
But beyond awards and ratings, the central message remains simple: during Bank Holiday and half-term breaks, roads and children increasingly share the same space. And in that overlap, attention is everything.
