Tragic boy’s family back 20mph road call

Connor Graham was killed on a road near his nursery in Halifax and to mark the fifth anniversary of his death his family are calling for roads to be made safer, with drivers urged to slow down to 20mph in communities.

Today his parents Paula Luders and Nev Graham will be at Stepping Stones Nursery, in Claremount Road, in support of a nationwide campaign by road safety charity Brake and Churchill car insurance.

Connor died in an accident involving a car in August 2006 as he crossed the busy road with his mother.

Ms Luders could only watch in horror as her son slipped from her grip and was run over. Connor was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital, where he later died.

Yesterday Ms Luders, who lives near the nursery, said: “I want to stop other tragedies occurring, I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

“I don’t want anybody else going through what I have been through.

Brake’s Beep Beep! Day involves hundreds of nurseries teaching young children simple road safety tips while calling on drivers to slow down to protect children near homes, schools and nurseries.

The campaigns director at Brake, Julie Townsend, said: “No family should have to go through what Connor Graham’s family experienced – and drivers can help stop these tragedies by slowing to 20mph or below around schools and homes.

“Every year thousands of children are killed or seriously injured on our roads. These deaths are manmade, avoidable and utterly unacceptable, causing terrible pain and trauma to the families involved.”

Nurseries, playgroups and childminders can run a Beep Beep! Day on whatever day is best for them, although most take place during the autumn.