Schools are back and apart from the tears and tantrums at the school gates, there is another reason why parents and commuters alike are tearing their hair out this month. A survey by motoring solutions specialist easytrip has confirmed that over 75% of commuting times have increased by 30-40 minutes since the schools started back.
Of those commuters partaking in the school run, the majority (54%) are dropping children to primary school and 38% have children attending pre-school. One third of parents surveyed were dropping children to secondary school.
Methods of transport
92% of those surveyed taking part in the school run, took children to school via car with over 54% travelling a distance of only 1-5km. A lowly 8% choose to walk children to the school gates. Reasons cited for driving children to school included:
· 27% – It’s on the way to work
· 25% – The distance between home and the school is quite far
· 17% – It is safer for children to be dropped at the school door
· 16% – There are no public transport services available
· 15% – Are regularly running late in the morning
When asked about alternative time saving methods, survey respondents cited trialling the ‘walking bus’ (where two or more parents walk children to school in files of two) for primary school goers, while most of the pre-school commuters tried car-pooling. The majority of respondents (58%) also said that 2km should be the minimum distance for driving children from their home to school.
Commuters
56% of respondents who commute daily but do not partake in the school run stated that they drove to work every day. Other methods of transport included:
· 20% – Walking
· 12% – Train / Dart / Luas
· 8% – Cycle
· 4% – Bus
Staggered starting times
Over 66% of all respondents were in favour of staggered start times for schools to ease traffic congestion and journey times in the morning.
Parking at school gates
The easytrip survey also found that school gates can often be a hotspot for traffic mishaps adding to delays and increased journey times. 98% of those surveyed said they had observed haphazard or dangerous parking outside schools with 42% stating that they had witnessed an argument between parents; parents and teachers; and parents and traffic warden (lollipop man/lady) in relation to parking or driving behaviour.
Speed limits at school environs
Both samples of respondents – school run parents and commuters, were asked their opinion on the special speed limit of 30km which has been introduced for many school areas around the country with an overwhelming majority (parents 85%; commuters 79%) citing that it should become mandatory at all schools.
“As our survey reveals, the school run is certainly no picnic for those of us who use the roads in the mornings. However, as we are in the business of making life easier for motorists, in order to reduce rush hour congestion, we would advise, in particular, for those ‘school runners’ who travel only a short distance of perhaps less than 2km to consider alternative options that would make life easier for us all. Other efficient and safe options for doing the school run include car-pooling or the ‘walking bus’” said Ciara O’Brien, Head of Operations, easytrip.
“Availing of flexi-time at work, by going into work earlier or later in the morning, is also an option for commuters in avoiding morning rush hour traffic. No matter where you’re travelling to, it’s vitally important for all drivers to be mindful when driving to or past schools, reduce your speed, be patient and pay attention.”
