The rationale for School Travel Plans has come from the increasing appreciation of the problems that excessive traffic on our roads can cause. These include:
- The impact of pollution from cars on the local environment and as a major emitter of greenhouse gases
- The effects on the health of our children as a result of air pollution which can leads to respiratory problems such as asthma
- The growing concern about the lack of physical activity for young children, which can contribute to problems such as obesity and lead to various conditions in later life, such as diabetes or heart problems
- The high number of people killed and seriously injured in road traffic accidents each year (215 people killed in London alone in 2004)
- The economic and social cost of congestion
The statistics show that around 1 in 5 cars on the road at 8:50am are involved in the school run – so targeting this group could potentially lead to a noticeable reduction in traffic at peak times and all the benefits this would bring – just look at what happens during the holidays!
