High-speed traffic blamed for pupils not walking to school

In the run up to Walk to School Week, the charity Living Streets says speed limits need to be reduced further.

In only two decades numbers going on foot to school have slumped.

Now only half of primary school pupils and 38 per cent of secondary school pupils set out on foot in the morning.

A survey of over 2,000 children aged seven to 14, out today, found that in Yorkshire, 46 per cent of children were scared of cars travelling too fast on their journey to school, the highest figure of any region surveyed.

More than one in four was concerned about the lack of safe road crossings. Almost a quarter were worried about being bullied – and nearly 40 per cent were concerned about “stranger danger”, despite the low risk of abduction.

Sixty eight per cent said school was “simply too far away” – although Government statistics suggest that most primary schools are within walking distance.

And 17 per cent of children – higher than the UK average of 14 per cent – do not currently walk to school because their parents “don’t have time.”

The charity is lobbying the Government to make it easier for local councils to reduce the speed limit around schools.

It says existing 20mph zones need to be extended “so that 20mph becomes the default speed limit wherever people live, work and play.”

It also want local authorities to make school entrances “car free zones” to limit congestion and pollution.

Another concern is that children – who are already not taking enough exercise – are missing out on a key way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

More than three-quarters of girls and 68 per cent of boys are not doing the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day, which for some could be achieved simply by walking to school. The high level of concern particularly from girls about “stranger danger” could reflect “a willingness to take on fears from the parents”, a reaction to media coverage of rare events, and a lack of familiarity with the people living in the neighbourhood.

Living Streets chief executive Tony Armstrong said the survey should be a “wake up” call for the Government.

He said: “This survey illustrates how parents’ fears are feeding into our children and getting them out of the walking habit. There are solutions, however. We already know from a previous survey that a fifth of parents who don’t currently walk their children to school would do so if cars didn’t travel as fast and we feel and safer streets would encourage more families to walk.

“If the Government is serious about tackling obesity and encouraging local active travel, they need to send a strong message to local authorities, parents and individuals that addressing these barriers is key to healthier, happier communities.

“The tools to get our children walking again are already there. Through our Walk to School campaign we are already reaching 1.6 million primary and secondary school pupils, but we have a way to go yet to reverse the decline seen over the past two decades.”

Every school and every local council needed to invest in cost-effective schemes to get children out on the street, healthy and active, he said. To find out more see www.livingstreets.org.uk. Walk to School Week is part of National Walking Month and takes place from May 16 to May 20.