MORE than 120 children were injured on Dorset roads last year and local campaigners are calling for the government to take serious action to make our roads safer for youngsters.

With the launch of National Road Safety Week today, the charity Brake and Longham-based business If It Moves are urging Dorset drivers to slow their speed down to 20 mph around schools and homes.

Last year three children died and 17 were seriously injured in road accidents in Dorset, prompting Roger Williams, head of If It Moves to encourage motorists to take greater care while driving in built up residential areas.

He said: "It's a tragedy that so many children are killed and hurt every day on our roads in Dorset. We're urging parents to get involved in the Week and join our fight for a safer community.

"Families can help us campaign for these vital measures by slowing down to 20mph around schools and homes to help reduce the potential seriousness of road crashes, in particular the safety of children."

Roger, who is responsible for driving the scheme, is calling for the government to take serious action to protect child pedestrians and cyclists by encouraging people to sign a website petition.

His campaign also aims to target over 4,500 Dorset businesses to get them to pledge their support for safety zones around schools and homes.

Debbie Stoner, from Somerford in Christchurch, whose seven-year-old daughter Jade died in September 2006 after being hit by a car while riding her bike, has since successfully fought for traffic calming measures on the estate where she lives.

She is fully supporting the campaign for a 20mph limit in residential roads and near schools.

She told the Daily Echo: "This has been a really tough year for all of us since losing Jade. The traffic calming measures is still a campaign that is very much in my mind. Jade was killed by a driver that was not speeding, he was going under 30 mph but people need to be aware that this can still kill."

An inquest heard the 19-year-old motorist was not going any faster than 25-30mph, which was ruled by a policeman as a suitable speed for the conditions at the time.

Debbie said: "People say how much they admire me and how strong I am but I don't think about it like that. Things need to be done to stop this happening to another family.

"The petition that we got together has moved the council to start with some measures on the estate but on my road I want to see speed humps and I want the speed limit reduced to a 20mph maximum. This is the only way to prevent tragedies repeating themselves."

Debbie also backed calls for a bigger police presence on the roads to deter drivers from exceeding the speed limit.

"Speed cameras and the sight of the police can make a driver immediately think about how fast they are going and have an instant effect," she added.

With government statistics indicating that child road deaths have increased by 20 per cent since 2005, Brake is encouraging parents to pledge their support and get involved in events happening over the week.

Parents can make a difference to their children's road safety by signing an online petition calling for Government funding for 20mph zones, as well as making the Stay Safe Family Promise' - which is aimed at families with young children and provides advice on walking, cycling and driving safely.

Details of the schemes and events throughout the week can be found at roadsafetyweek.org