The Problem
Dangerous congestion
If you don't think traffic congestion around schools is a problem, try this experiment.
- Stand near a school at the beginning or end of the school day.
- Count the number of cars converging onto the streets immediately surrounding the school. Likely, you’ll be able to count two or three hundred cars stopping to drop students off.
- Observe the driving behaviours. Probably you’ll see all sorts of traffic violations and dangerous practices: stopping in no-stopping zones, U-turns on busy streets and backing up into crosswalks, just to name a few.
And, all of this happens in a very short period of time when the roads and sidewalks around the school are teaming with children on their way to and from school. No wonder so many parents say the most dangerous place during their child’s journey to school is the area immediately surrounding the school!
Unhealthy air quality
Short motor vehicle trips (such as driving a child to school) contribute a significant portion to our air pollution because they typically occur while an engine’s pollution control system is cold and ineffective.
These pollutants are harmful to human health and the environment. Pollution particularly affects children’s respiratory systems. They breathe more rapidly than adults. And, pollutants have an impact on the development of their lungs. According to AirCare, respiratory disease is now the leading cause of childhood hospital admissions in Canada.
Poor fitness and obesity
Poor fitness and obesity should not be taken lightly. We are all less physically active than in previous generations. It is estimated that children are 40% less active today than they were 30 years ago.
And that can lead to obesity. According to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon, obesity in Canadian children ages six to eleven years has increased by 50% in the past fifteen years. As these children age, they can become obese adults who are at high risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
Want to know more?
It’s obvious that our dependence on the car is creating problems. And these problems are particularly evident around schools at the beginning and end of the day. Although many parents are concerned about the risk of “stranger danger,” motor vehicles create a much greater risk of injury and death to children.
You can be part of the solution. And, if you'd like to know more about the costs of your transportation choices, click here for some interesting information from the Autoplan Broker's Way to Go program.