• More than half of parents polled reported traffic chaos near their child’s school at dropping off and picking up times
  • 91% of these parents claim there isn’t an effective school traffic management plan in place
  • AA ask more than 3,000 parents about efforts made to reduce cars at the school gate
  • AA releases new video offering top tips for conquering the chaotic run: https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/school-runs

According to the latest research conducted by the AA, 56% of parents we interviewed reported traffic chaos near their child’s school at dropping off and picking up times. And 91% of these parents claim there isn’t an effective school traffic management plan in place near the school at the beginning and end of the day.1

As children and parents across the country settle in back to school, the AA asked more than 3,000 parents about the efforts made to reduce the number of cars at the school gate.2

  • – Two fifths (42%) say their school actively encourages their pupils to walk to school
  • – A quarter (24%) say there is a school bus service provided
  • – A fifth (20%) say their school wants their students to cycle into school

Edumund King, AA president says; “The best travel plans are made by the pupils themselves as they can convince their parents what is best for them and the school. Just banning drop-off areas in cars means the problem shifts into the next street. Asking both kids and parents when and how they might get to school without the car might produce solutions that work for that community.

“While there is no universal solution to the problem, walking and cycling levels have not increased for 15 years, therefore a more collective effort is needed to tackle the issue.

“Schools may need more storage space for bikes and scooters. Local councils should provide more buses and employers should be more flexible to allow parents to walk their children to school.”

The AA has created this new video to help parents defeat the school run traffic. The video offers top tips, expert knowledge and answers popular questions such as:

  • Do schools have their own speed limits?
  • Could using cars during the school run be banned over concerns about air pollution?

You can watch the full video here and read more detailed information around beating the school run:

https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/school-runs