Report to the People
If, like me, you commute to work during the morning rush hour, you will be looking forward to the school holidays. During the summer, the absence of school run traffic reduces congestion and journey times dramatically.
Whether we like it or not, the fact is that the days when all children can quite easily make their own way to school are no longer with us. And the volume of rush hour traffic from the school run is significant, generating problems which are more serious than some of us being delayed on our way to work. Dependency on the car impacts upon our children’s health and safety, their personal development and the quality of the air we breathe.
In a week when the British Heart Foundation launched a major campaign, warning children of the health risks of a couch potato lifestyle, the need to encourage children to get out of the car and into the fresh air is apparent.
The issue of children’s safety on the way to school has become a hot issue locally. I therefore recently discussed the issue with senior officers from Strathclyde Traffic Police, who underlined just how complex the situation is becoming.
One fact in particular shocked me. Unbelievable as it may seem, children who have been driven everywhere all their lives can reach secondary school without knowing how to cross a road safely.
It is, as was pointed out to me last week by the Police, a vicious circle. Some roads are busy and unsafe - so more children are driven to school - which makes the roads busier and less safe - and even more children are driven to school.
The Scottish Executive, however, is taking action. It is supporting the "Safer Routes to School" programme, which encourages walking, cycling and better use of public transport. Earlier this month, Transport and Environment Minister, Sarah Boyack, awarded Inverclyde £93,000 under the scheme.
These additional funds will help fund measures such as traffic calmed 20 mph zones; more crossing for pedestrians and cyclists; extra cycle lanes and pedestrian footpaths; traffic-free entrances to schools and secure cycle storage and locker facilities at schools.
If we are to meet our target of reducing child deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 50% by 2010, we need to embrace projects such as this and give children a genuine alternative to the car.
We need to break the vicious circle and keep our children’s safety paramount.
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