Walk to School Month underway

Children and their parents are being urged to reap the benefits of walking to school.

During International Walk to School Month, which runs for the whole of October, the benefits to health, practical road safety awareness and reducing pollution will be highlighted as more parents and children are encouraged to walk - or to park further away from the school and walk at least part of the way.

As well as links to Health Promoting and ECO Schools, International Walk to School month can be included in a School Travel Plan.

School Travel Plans aims to lower the number of car journeys being made to school, thereby reducing congestion at the school gates and improving road safety and the environment around the school.

Chair of South Lanarkshire Council's Roads Safety Forum, Councillor John Murray, said: "Walking to school has benefits on so many levels it has become almost the sensible option!

"I know for some people distance dictates they must take the car, but even parking a distance away and walking is much better than trying to get a drop-off point right next to the school gates.

"As well as improving a child's fitness and cutting down on pollution, it can also help save petrol - something I am sure every car driver is trying to do with the current financial climate.

"The school run can also use a lot of fuel because of the general stop-start nature of the journey, which is also not good for the environment.

"There is also the road safety aspect - we have all seen how crowded the entrances and exits to schools can get with cars and some people's selfish parking can put children in danger.

"I hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to try walking to school during the month of October - in my opinion the benefits are there for all to see."