The family and the school run: what would make a real difference: a summary report

Recent research has found that very few British schools have yet begun comprehensive school travel plans or even thoroughly assessed them. This report presents a scoping study to explore the problem, commissioned by the AA Foundation for Road Safety. The study aimed to: (1) find the facts relevant to the school run; (2) investigate why more parents are driving their children to school; and (3) recommend what could be done to help parents to reduce levels of car use. About 50% of children aged 5-15 walk to school, compared with 30% travelling by car, 17% by bus, 1% by bicycle, and 2% by train and other modes. Factors affecting modal choice include car ownership, age, distance, choice of school, and type of area. Efforts to reduce school runs may also need to provide travel alternatives to and from parents' workplaces. Eliminating school runs would have a much smaller impact on peak traffic congestion than many motorists assume. For most of the parents interviewed in the household surey, the car plays a central part in their daily activities. Reasons for car use include other children in the family, time, concerns for child safety and school hour policies. The report finally considers what would make a real difference, including the potential for reducing car use, and what would make public transport an attractive alternative.