Safe travel to school
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Getting to school
We work with Sustrans to promote sustainable travel to school. Walking, cycling or scooting to school promotes a healthy lifestyle to children.
Benefits include:
- walking to school prepares children with basic life skills they need such as personal safety and road safety skills
- fewer cars on the road, making the roads around school a safer place for pedestrians
- children learn about the combat to prevent climate change is to walk to school, where it is shown that we can all make a difference - make a difference by walking to school, leaving the car at home and finding out what else we're doing to help climate change
- the NHS guidance on physical activity for children and young people recommends that children should aim for 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day across the week
Additional resources and useful links:
- Sustainable travel to school strategy
- school travel planning
- cycling
- transport to school for children with special educational needs
School travel planning
A school travel plan is a useful tool for managing how children travel to school. They set out measures to promote walking, cycling, taking the bus or car sharing to and from school.
Along with local police, schools and parents we are seeking to reduce the use of cars for the school journey to provide a safer environment around schools for children in Luton.
School travel plans are written and managed online through the national award scheme Modeshift STARS.
The school gain accreditation for the work they do to increase the modal shift from the car to walking, cycling, scooting etc.
The Luton Road Safety team are please to say that we are the leading authority in Bedfordshire for school accreditation and have been the first authority in Bedfordshire to have a gold level school.
For more information on Modeshift STARS please contact [email protected]
The safety around schools initiative aims to promote safer, more environmentally sustainable and healthier ways of getting to and from school with particular emphasis on walking and cycling. Schools need be registered and actively using their travel plan on Modeshift STARS.
The project involves the commitment from the schools to achieve accreditations from Modeshift STARS. This platform can identify any issues that you have around the school. As part of the project the road layout around the school can be looked at and reviewed. These measures can be considered as part of a safer routes project and they may include:
- pedestrian crossings
- improved pavements
- school zones
- parking restrictions
- cycle routes and cycle parking
School crossing patrols - FAQs
As a driver do I have to stop for a school crossing patrol?
Failing to stop when asked to so by a school crossing patrol (SCP) is both dangerous and illegal. Motorists are bound by the 1984 Road Traffic Act to stop for a school crossing patrol. We will investigate all reported incidents of motorists not stopping for a SCP and report the offence to Bedfordshire police.
Who can cross with a school crossing patrol?
Any pedestrians can cross with a school crossing patrol.
How to request a school crossing patrol?
You can request a school crossing patrol by contacting the Road Safety team . The location requested will be surveyed to see if it meet the national set criteria, which includes a vehicle and pedestrian count based on traffic volume and the child pedestrians crossing it.
Why become a school crossing patrol?
We have vacancies for school crossing patrols at various locations throughout the borough. The job is term time only, you will be provided with full training and uniform. For more information please contact the Road Safety team or call 01582 546000 for more information on the role.
Resources available to schools
The road safety box contains interactive resources to assist teachers to teach the importance road safety messages. It includes ‘Teddy takes a tumble’ story which is a reminder to use seatbelts. This resource is suitable for foundation and key stage 1.
Children from selected classes are recruited to become JRSO’s. Their role is to share and promote road safety and sustainable travel messages within the school using competitions and assemblies, with the support of teachers and the road safety team. This scheme is aimed at key stage 2 children.
Stepping out Safely is a practical training scheme for young pedestrians which schools can run for 4 to 7 year olds. The training is divided into three levels dependant on the child’s age. The project comes with guidance for:
- teachers
- assessors
- parents
Snakes and Ladders with a twist- the game with road safety questions! Sets are available to borrow either by themselves or with the Road Safety Box. Suitable for both KS1 and KS2 dependant on how it is used.
For further information on a scheme or to book a resource please contact the road safety team .