UK children step out for slower speed limits
Today, thousands of children from across the UK are making the most of the unseasonal weather and joining forces with over 40 countries worldwide this October to kick off International Walk to School Month.
From the United Kingdom to Uganda, children are learning the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in the 11th year of this global event, which celebrates the benefits of walking to school.
Walk to School Month is run in the UK by national charity Living Streets, which works to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets where people want to walk. Living Streets runs the national Walk to School campaign, which gets over 1.6 million children walking to school each year. For this year’s Walk to School Month, Living Streets is kick starting a campaign for 20 mph speed limits where we live, work and shop, to make the journey to school safer and more enjoyable for those on foot.
Feedback from parents and children often puts road safety and in particular traffic speeds one of the top barriers which prevents them from walking. By taking action to reduce speed limits, Living Streets believes we can encourage parents to ditch the car keys and get their children to the school gates on foot. Walking to school regularly is not only a fantastic way to help reach the recommended daily 60 minutes of activity, but also a great chance to teach your children vital road safety skills and ensure they are alert and ready to learn at the start of a new day.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“We often hear from parents who are put off walking with their children due to the speed of traffic on our streets and it’s easy to see why. A child hit at 20 mph has a 97% chance of survival, yet half of children hit at 35 mph would lose their lives. That’s why we are campaigning for slower speed limits this Walk to School Month.
“Walking to school is a great way to see the community, socialise with friends and get some fresh air into your day. It’s also a nice chance to spend quality time with your children and to teach them the importance of a healthy lifestyle, as well as essential road safety skills.”
Parents are urged to take action and campaign for 20 mph speed limits in their local area. Resources and ideas to kick start your campaign can be found at www.walktoschool.org.uk .