SURVEY OF FAMILIES' SCHOOL TRANSPORT. WE SURVEYED 5,000 CHILDREN, 6,000 PARENTS AND 100 SCHOOLS IN DENMARK.
With support from GF Insurance Fund
SUMMARY
More safety can make school routes healthier.
An unsafe school route often discourages a more active form of transport to school. This is one of the main conclusions in a report from Sund Skolevej, which, in collaboration with the GF Insurance Foundation, has examined the relationship between active and passive transport to school among Danish schoolchildren. But how can we make the roads safer together? The working group has several suggestions.
Lower speed limits at schools and more dialogue with parents about safety experiences on the school route.
These are some of the key recommendations highlighted in the comprehensive study of children's and families' transport habits and transport motives, which Sund Skolevej has carried out in collaboration with the GF Foundation and nine municipalities. The report was prepared by the Planning Group in collaboration with the Luxembourg Traffic Safety and Road Technology Association.
Three out of ten feel unsafe.
The study shows, among other things, that three out of ten parents are unsafe on the way to school – the same applies to every fourth student. At the same time, 88 percent of parents actually want their children to cycle or walk to school – but in almost two out of three cases where children are driven to school, it is related to the parents feeling unsafe on the way to school. Safety on the way to school means a lot to most parents regardless of the mode of transport and is closely linked to the choice of transport.
The main problem is cars.
The study shows that a great many students are driven to school, even though they live close to the school – even though a majority of their parents actually see the iron horse or walking as the best means of transport. Among the decisive reasons why parents are unsafe on the way to school are too many cars that drive too close, too fast and do not show sufficient consideration in traffic. When parents take the car to school, they themselves help to reinforce the cause of the insecurity that also triggers car transportation to school in others.
Good traffic areas are important.
The study also shows that ensuring pedestrian areas and cycle paths, safe road crossings and clear traffic conditions are important for active transport. A lack of these conditions creates insecurity and increases the likelihood of using a car to school. If traffic is heavy or there are, for example, country roads on the route to school, cycle paths are important if children are to transport themselves. Overall, intact, well-maintained and illuminated areas are important for cycling and walking children on the way to school.
Different transport preferences.
What is surprising in the study is that while parents prefer walking or cycling for their children, many children prefer to be driven to school, which is the case for 3 out of 10 children. When children's desire to be driven is met with insecurity, busyness or bad weather, the car is the likely solution. Conversely, parents who feel safe on the school route and live within a reasonable transportation distance will in most cases ensure that their child walks or cycles to school. One of the most basic prerequisites for overcoming barriers such as convenience and busyness is that parents feel safe on the school route and dare to let their child cycle or walk to school.
Big potential for more cycling and walking.
The potential for more active transport is great and for most family's active school transport will be affordable. The distance to school is short for most families - more than 8 out of 10 students have less than 4 km between home and school. The study shows that almost every second student who arrives by car has less than 2 km to school and that 7 out of 10 car transports take place within a distance of 4 km from school. One in five of all school transports can be converted to active transport and 7 out of 10 car transports to school can be avoided or reduced if more people with up to 4 km to school walk or cycle.
Recommendations for municipalities, schools and parents.
The report contains practical recommendations and suggestions for how municipalities, schools and parents can promote active school transport. The report also contains the figures behind the study. Municipalities or advisors who want to deepen the results of the study or need assistance in putting recommendations into practice can receive help from the team behind the project.