Survey Highlights Need To Cut Use Of Cars on School Runs
Travelling to school in the car is no longer the most frequently used mode of transport in the Highlands, as shown in a recent travel survey.
The survey was carried out by The Highland Council’s Road Safety team, who are working hard to promote walking and cycling through their Safer Routes to School Project. The areas that show the greatest reduction in car use are Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty.
Cycling numbers continue to be well above the national average in all regions however, work still needs to be done as there are still too many pupils coming to school by car. Twenty years ago 80% of children came to school on foot. This number has rapidly declined in recent years.
Lisa MacKellaich, The Highland Council’s Road Safety Officer said: “All of our schools work hard to promote child health and wellbeing, improve roads safety and reduce pollution. Through various initiatives such as Health Promoting Schools, Eco-Schools and Safer Routes to School, each Primary has an opportunity to make a real difference. I very much hope that the trend will continue to improve in the coming years.”
Chairman of TEC Services, Councillor John Laing welcomed the results of the survey. “Thanks to the ongoing work of local schools in developing their travel plans, pupils now have safer walking and cycling journeys to school. Cutting back on the use of cars to transport pupils makes economic and environmental sense. Pupils also benefit from the fresh air and exercise at the start and end of the school day.”
These results are released as Highland schools are gearing up to once again take part in Walk to Schools week (October the 29th to November 5th ). 12 400 pupils will participate this year. This the greatest number of participating pupils to date and is a 14% increase on the numbers taking part this time last year.
Walk to School Week is being run in conjunction with Healthy Highland Week. Many events will be taking place throughout the week. Details can be found on www.healthyhighland.com
Louise Thomas, Health Promoting Schools Manager said: “We are thrilled to see that children and young people are using greener and healthier ways of getting to school. It is the result of pupils, parents, staff and the authorities working together to make the route to school safer and more appealing. Healthy Highland 2007 was planned to give people in Highland an opportunity to celebrate Highland as a healthy and vibrant place to live and the results of this survey are certainly something we can all celebrate as a fantastic achievement.”