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| Mother’s safety plea after
crossing death |
Pressure group launches award in
memory of Zahra
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Durrah Mahmood at the spot where her daughter was killed
Zahra Mahmood
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THE death of a two-year-old girl has ignited a campaign to improve
a road junction in Finsbury Park.
Little Zahra Mahmood was being pushed by her mother in a buggy when
it was hit by a 26-ton lorry at the junction of Blackstock Road
and Brownswood Road in April last year.
At a St Pancras inquest, the coroner recorded a verdict of accidental
death and called for an investigation into safety at the crossing.
The inquest was told a noise alarm signalling when pedestrians could
cross did not work.
The death caused much distress among residents. Solicitors who represented
the family waived their fees and made a donation to Islington branch
of pedestrian pressure group Living Streets.
Zahra’s mother, Durrah, an organic food distributor from Wilberforce
Road, Finsbury Park, is determined that her daughter’s death
will result in major improvements to road safety in Blackstock Road
and at pedestrian crossings throughout the borough.
Mrs Mahmood, who has a son of 12 and a daughter of 16, has the support
of Labour councillor Theresa Debono, who accompanied her to a meeting
with the Town Hall’s road safety officers to discuss improvements.
Living Streets has launched a safety award for schools in Zahra’s
name.
Speaking for the first time about the accident on April 4 last year,
Mrs Mahmood said: “Not only was the traffic light alarm not
working, but the lights on the far side were hidden by the lorry
which had stopped on the crossing.
“As a pedestrian I had no way of knowing if it was safe to
cross.
“I’ve used the crossing many times since then. On one
occasion I had about four seconds to cross using the illuminated
green man to avoid a No 4 bus driving across a red light.”
Hundreds of children from three schools use the crossing. Campaigners
want pedestrians to be given longer to cross, improved visibility
of traffic lights and the return of a bleeping green man.
Mrs Mahmood added: “I lost a child. It should never have happened
and I don’t want it to happen to another parent. The council
must look seriously at pedestrian safety.”
Living Streets spokeswoman Christine Maybe said: “We have decided
to establish the Zahra Award to the London primary school which
has done most to promote road safety.
“As well as an award there will be £500 to be spent by
the winning school to promote walking safely. This will be awarded
at the end of February 2006 by Zahra’s mother.” |
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