Government is to consider redesigning traffic barriers following the death of a schoolgirl last month.

Ten-year-old Tifanelle Pitcher died after riding her pedal cycle into one of the metal barriers on Tribe Road No. 1 in Southampton on January 11. The barrier consists of a horizontal bar running more than four feet off the ground — high enough for young cyclists to duck under.

The Royal Gazette understands that neighbourhood children regularly ride their pedal bikes down the Tribe Road — which is on a steep incline — towards the roadblock before ducking under it. Tiffanelle suffered from head injuries in the accident and reportedly died almost immediately.

Following the accident, Tiffanelle’s mother, Tiffany Pitcher called on Government to replace the barriers with a different model to stop cyclists from passing under them.

“The children would regularly ride their bikes down the hill and then duck under the barrier — I’ve seen them do it and it’s frightening,” she said at the time.

“But if there had been a different barrier in place, such as a turnstile, that might have prevented this from happening.”

A Government spokesman has now confirmed that the barriers could be redesigned.

“While the design of the barriers that we use is standard worldwide, the Ministry will examine how these barriers may be made even safer, perhaps with adding a diagonal bar,” the spokesman said.

“We will encourage all users of the roads with barriers to exercise extreme caution in the use of such roads. We are happy to share our plans with the family of young Tiffanelle and welcome their feedback.”

Last night Mrs Pitcher welcomed the news and said it brought some comfort to her.

And she pointed out that action needed to be taken because youngsters were still speeding down the hill on their bikes and skateboards.

“I think it’s good that Government is going to do something about this because I really don’t want anyone else to go through what I’ve been through,” Ms Pitcher said.

“Hopefully this will prevent this sort of tragedy from happening again. I am holding up but at the same time still devastated that I have lost my daughter. I think about her every day and just wish that she could come back. It’s hard to think that her short life has gone.”