Figures from the Huddersfield-based road safety organisation Brake show that last year 13 children were killed, the highest figure since 1997.

Altogether in 2001, 1,777 youngsters were killed or injured on the county's roads.

That is an average of 34 every week.

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Brake backs up these figures up with a survey of 11-14 year olds in Leeds and Bradford which shows that children are risking their own safety.

Nearly three-quarters of the 560 chidlren questioned said they had crossed a road while not looking where they were going.

And 43% had crossed a road whle sending a text message.

Mary Williams, the chief executive of Brake, says: "Some children are taking terrible risks.

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"Evidently, older children's growing independence means many think it is OK to take more risks and the consequences are tragedy."

Graham Riley from Leeds City Council's road safety unit adds: "It is easy for us to blame someone else for deaths and injuries of children on roads.

"But we all have a responsibility to keep our roads safe."