Parents 'risking children's safety' during school run

Date: 28/11/2011

Many parents could be risking the safety of themselves and their children when driving them to school in the morning, new research suggests.

Conducted by Post Office Car Insurance, a study found 31 per cent of fathers confessed to breaking the speed limit when transporting their offspring.

Some 19 per cent of mothers admitted to speeding, while 15 per cent of parents revealed they have driven through amber lights because they were in a rush.

The organisation pointed out that according to figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, there is a significant increase in the number of reported casualties on the UK's roads at school run times - between 08:00 and 09:00 and 16:00 to 18:00

"Parents who do find themselves in a rush to get to the school gate on time in the morning should remember it's better to be late than to risk lives on the road," Head of Car Insurance at the Post Office Gerry Barrett said.

One motor firm trying to tackle the issue is Kia, as it recently launched its Walking Bus Scheme, which encourages youngsters to walk to school instead of getting a lift from their parents.

Posted by Sarah Bailey