A MOTHER who campaigned for safety improvements on an Oxford road where her daughter was run over has backed calls to cut speed limits outside schools to 20mph.

Sybil Dibdin visited children at North Hinksey Primary School as Brake, the national road safety charity, launched its Let Kids Live campaign today.

Brake has called on the Government to equip local authorities with enough cash to install road safety measures close to schools - and lower speed limits in residential areas from 30mph to 20mph.

Four years ago, while walking to school in Headington, 14-year-old Emma Dibdin was knocked over by a car in Headley Way.

Mrs Dibdin, 56, of Staunton Road, said: "She ran across the road, but misjudged the distance and speed of the car.

"She was hit, thrown on to the windscreen and landed on the ground. She was in a pool of blood and unconscious."

At first, her injuries were thought to be serious, but Emma, made a full recovery and is studying English literature at Cambridge University.

Mrs Dibdin, who successfully campaigned for a crossing close to where her daughter was hit, added: "Drivers need to understand that 30mph is too fast, but it is up to the authorities to lower the limit."

In the past three years there have been 11 serious injuries involving children walking or cycling to school in Oxfordshire.

At North Hinksey School, children, aged between four and 11, are encouraged to walk, cycle or scooter to school and take part in a series of projects aimed at raising their awareness of the dangers of the road.

Parents even volunteer to teach them road safety as part of the successful Footsteps programme, which is run with Oxfordshire County Council.

Jessica Hughes, eight, said: "It worries us how fast the cars are going when we walk to school."

And Oliver Huggins, nine, added: "If you don't look, you could be knocked over and get badly hurt."

Headteacher Sally Wheatley added: "All approaches to the school have been improved so all families have benefited from greater levels of safety on their journeys to and from school. Improved safety encourages more families to walk to school."

Brake spokesman Jools Townsend said: "We are calling on the Government to provide funding and require local authorities to implement 20mph limits around all schools and residential developments."