The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) today welcomed the Yellow School Bus Commission’s findings that US style yellow buses will cut congestion and improve child pedestrian safety.
The number of children travelling to school by car has doubled in the last 20 years – 41% of primary and 21% of secondary school pupils are now being taken on the ‘school run’, according to research. This represents around one in five of car trips in the morning peak and on some roads journey times.
Many parents drive their child to school because of the poor supervision, image and quality of current school buses. Most parents do not want to contribute to pollution and congestion but often feel they have no real choice. High profile, clean and well maintained buses with well trained staff and safety features such as seatbelts are just the incentive that parents need to make the switch from car to public transport.
“It is disappointing that the Commission still supports the anachronistic one mile rule,” said Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at the IAM.
“Under these proposals we will still see yellow buses driving past soaked children just because they live the wrong side of an arbitrary line.”
Adds Greig: “Access to yellow buses for all pupils would help to cut out the shortest and most polluting journeys by car and give choice for those days when walking or cycling is difficult. Ensuring that yellow bus drivers get training in advanced driving techniques as well as courtesy and child care would make them even more attractive to parents considering their future school run options.”
Ends
For further information please contact the IAM Press Office – 020 8996 9777 (24 hour line).We have an ISDN for interviews.
