SCHOOLS BACK ALERT FROM THE IAM
06 September 2004 - Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists

As schools across the UK start to go back after the summer break, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has reminded drivers to take extra care.

The road traffic accident rate for children peaks between 8am and 9am, when
children are en route to school, and again at 3pm when they leave. One in
five children injured on the road is hurt during the hours of the school
run, which typically sees rush hour traffic swelling by nearly 20 per cent.

Over the last decade the share of journeys to school by car has nearly
doubled to nearly 30 per cent. Although over a million children a day are
driven to school in private cars, only a tiny fraction of the parents at
the wheel have ever done anything beyond the L Test to improve their
driving skills, even if they are driving children other than their own.

''Anybody who is driving near a school at these peak times should bear in
mind these sad statistics. This is not just a message for parents taking
their children to school, important though that is: this is a message to
all drivers and riders to exercise care around schools,'' said IAM Chief
Executive Christopher Bullock.

''Imagine how devastating it would be to be involved in a collision with a
school child, regardless of the circumstances. 20mph zones are only as
good as the drivers who are in them. And they often don''t extend to
surrounding roads where children may be waiting for buses or making their
way home on foot,'' said Mr Bullock.

The IAM has a free fact sheet for any parent or teacher who wants to find
out how to encourage more responsible driving around schools.

Advice includes:

* Where narrow roads and parking prevent two vehicles passing, it is far
better to give way rather than mount the pavement in order to ''squeeze''
past. Driving on the pavement is illegal, damages the pavement and could
injure a pedestrian.

* Those who choose 4x4s in order to make their own children safer inside
should give equal consideration to the child pedestrians outside. Around
schools, speeds lower than the posted limit are increasingly appropriate.

Any driver or rider who wishes to find out how to improve their safety on
the road can contact the IAM on 020 8996 9600 or visit iam.org.uk.

www.iam.org.uk

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