Why Should I Leave My Car At Home?
The Problem- what is all the fuss about?
Other benefits of walking and cycling to school.
If you can't walk or cycle you can still do your bit.
The Problem
Road transport is a major source of air pollution in the UK. Harmful gases produced by motor engines can have an adverse effect on people's health.
One in five people in the UK are at risk from air pollution, in particular, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people suffering from heart and lung disease .
With rises in air pollution asthma attacks have doubled in the last fifteen years. In the UK 5.2 million people receive treatment for asthma with 1.1 million of them being children .
Reports conclude that poor air quality is responsible for 32,000 premature deaths in the UK each year. Harmful gases emitted by traffic are the major cause of these deaths .
What can we do about it?
We need to reduce the amount of harmful gases we release into the atmosphere. Cutting car use by either walking or cycling your child to and from school is the easiest and cheapest way to do this.
What are the benefits?
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes and other illnesses in adults.
It can benefit children by helping control body weight, maintain healthy bones and muscles and also improve quality of life .
By cutting car use, you are reducing the release of harmful gases and helping to protect your child from developing diseases such as asthma.
Other benefits of walking or cycling to school
You can teach your child about road safety and the importance of being a safe road user.
Help develop a sense of independence and self confidence in your child.
You can help reduce congestion at the school gates making it safer for your child to walk into the school.
Also walking has more than just physical benefits, it can help make your child more alert at school for learning.
Reducing car use can save you money. British households spend £1 in every £6 on motoring per year. Leaving your car at home for short journeys can help reduce your yearly outgoings leaving you with more money for other necessities and luxuries .
If you can't walk or cycle, you can still do your bit...
Obviously not everyone can leave the car at home for journeys such as the school run, some parents may be going straight onto work and other may live too far away. However, you can still help reduce car use by either joining a car sharing scheme or parking your car away from the school and walking your children from there.
Your child needs you to protect them, cut your car use and help them live a pollutant free life.