A Safer Journey to School

This guide for schools on travel plans takes account of our integrated transport policy to reduce car dependency, particularly for short journeys. It also builds upon the many good practices already in place in schools up and down the country. Safer Routes to School is the centerpiece of the Government's transport proposals for schools and the key to turning the practical steps in this guidance into action on the ground.

A school travel plan is a series of practical steps for improving children's safety on the school journey. The project has benefits for both the school and the wider community. It aims to:

• Reduce accidents and danger on the journey to school;
• Enable parents and children to choose walking, cycling and public transport with confidence;
• Cut congestion at the school gate;
• Improve children's health and fitness through walking and cycling;
• Equip children with better road awareness and give them familiarity with public transport;
• Give children the opportunity to have a say in decisions which affect them;
• Provide an interesting focus for classwork within the national curriculum;
• Build links within the whole school community;

Make the area around the school safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
The guide helps readers to:

• Set up their own project;
• Map the school journey;
• Move their project along;
• Publicize the project;

Think about redesigning the roads around the school to make them safer;

• Consider ride sharing.

The guide also explains to readers why children should walk to school, how to talk to students about walking to school in the classroom, how to encourage more walking and cycling, how to make bus travel safer and find funding for their project. The guide ends with an action checklist.

Resource File: 

dft_susttravel_pdf_504076.pdf