by Jean Gray BBC News Online

The government is introducing Home Zones in a bid to cut casualties from road accidents

Road accidents leave 268 children dead or seriously hurt in Britain each month, a study by Children's charity Barnardo's and environmental group Transport 2000 claims.

BBC News Online visited the streets around two schools - one where investment has gone into cutting traffic, and a second near a thundering A road where changes are promised.

Barnardo's and Transport 2000 say children feel speeding and selfish driving are stopping them playing outside.

They are calling for more speed cameras, 20mph speed limits and traffic calming measures in areas where there are a high number of children.

The "bad" area News Online visited is at the junction of Brownlow Road and the North Circular Road, a main intersection in Enfield, north London.

Mothers and children are forced to play 'beat the traffic' at the junction

Facing onto the North Circular, close to the junction, is Bowes Road Primary School.

Alison Clarke, who has a five-year-old son, Louis, at the school, says people treat the local side roads as an extension of the main road.

"We have no pedestrian crossing and no lollipop person," she said. "A classic around here is cars not indicating then turning into a side road as children are trying to cross."

There is no phasing of the traffic lights for pedestrians, who are forced to dash across the road as the lights change - a practice Louis describes as "scary".

Close to the school, three lanes narrow to two and there is often standing traffic, with no barriers apart from those directly outside.

Artists and pupils got together to design parts of the Home Zone

Beyond the school lorries have careered off the road onto the pavement near a sharp turning.

"There is only one sign to tell drivers they are approaching a school but plenty of signs warning them of speed bumps," said Ms Clarke.

"It's as though damaging your car is worse than damaging a child.

"Now we have been told some sort of crossing is to be built but we don't yet know what it will be."

Transport for London said the area is to be given a boost under the Mayor of London's five-year transport investment programme.

This, said Mayor Ken Livingstone, will include a road safety scheme and pedestrian improvements at the Brownlow Road junction as part of �24m improvements to the North Circular Road.

The mayor called it "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reverse decades of under-investment in Enfield and right across London".

Rat-run

Meanwhile, the area around Eleanor Palmer Primary School in Tufnell Park, north west London, is an oasis of calm.

Its problems have never been on a par with the North Circular but the surrounding roads were used as a rat-run before a �450,000 government cash injection brought pedestrianisation, barriers, better lighting and 20mph speed restrictions.

The area has been designated a Home Zone - a government initiative to reduce traffic flow speeds and casualties from road collisions.

Barriers, signs, lighting and a paved pedestrian section have turned the area into an oasis

"The aim has been to cut speeds down to 15mph in the surrounding roads," said Cllr John Thane, Camden Council's executive member for transport and the environment.

"There are still roads where speeds are hovering above this but we are getting there."

The scheme was completed in November 2003 but minor improvements are still being made.

"Next week we are adding more bays with dual resident/pay and display use," said Cllr Thane.

"But most people walk here with their children. The school has been very good at promoting green routes."