The report is based on a survey of 2,005 people who have primary care responsibilities for children aged 4-11. Only parents whose children attend school were eligible to complete the survey. The survey was conducted in May 2024 by independent research agency, Surveygoo.

This survey report is published as more than 80,000 children from more than 720 schools and youth groups take part in Brake's Kids Walk to shout out for their right to make safe and healthy journeys. Brake's Kids Walk 2024 is sponsored by esure.

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What did parents and carers tell us?

Key findings:

  • More than half of children (54%) often or usually walk to school.
  • Two-thirds (69%) of parents would like their children to walk and wheel to school more; many say they can’t because roads are too busy (39%) and traffic is too fast (24%).
  • 78% of parents would like roads near their home and children’s schools to have a 20mph speed limit.
  • 85% of parents would like to see Government doing more to make their roads safer.
  • Illegal parking around schools is a problem for more than half of parents (52%).
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Where we live

In question 1, we wanted to understand the types of areas in which parents and carers and their children live and go to school.

The majority of respondents (62%) told us they live in an urban area (37% within a town; 25% in city suburbs), with the remaining 38% describing the area in which they live as rural (a hamlet, village or rural town). These figures corresponded closely with the areas in which their children’s school was based. This suggests that most people live in the same type of environment as the one in which their children go to school, which is corroborated by the answers to question 2.

Q1: Please describe the type of area that you live in and that your child(ren) go to school in

We live in a…

Rural: Hamlet (a small settlement, smaller than a village and without a church)

3.6%

Rural: Village (a group of houses, larger than a hamlet, smaller than a town)

13.0%

Rural: Town and fringe (an area on the outskirts of an urban town, or a town in a rural setting)

20.9%

Urban: Town

37.5%

Urban: City suburbs

25.0%
Q1: Please describe the type of area that you live in and that your child(ren) go to school in

Their school is based in a…

Rural: Hamlet (a small settlement, smaller than a village and without a church)

2.3%

Rural: Village (a group of houses, larger than a hamlet, smaller than a town)

14.0%

Rural: Town and fringe (an area on the outskirts of an urban town, or a town in a rural setting)

20.3%

Urban: Town

38.9%

Urban: City suburbs

24.5%
In 2022, 6,075 children aged 4-11 were harmed on UK roads. This means that, on average, 16 primary schoolchildren are harmed as a result of road crashes every single day. In 2022, 16 children aged 4-11 died on UK roads and a further 1.113 were seriously injured..
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How we travel to school

In question 2, we turned our attention to the distance children travel to get to school.

The majority (80%) of people we questioned told us they live less than two miles from their children’s school, while more than half (57%) told us their journey is one mile or less.

It seems that for a significant number of respondents, the distance between school and home is not a significant barrier to choosing to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

Q2: What is the distance from your house to your child(ren)’s school?

Less than 0.5 miles

26.8%

Between 0.5 and 1 mile

30.2%

1-2 miles

23.2%

3-5 miles

14.6%

6-10 miles

3.6%

More than 10 miles

1.5%

Travelling to and from school...

39%
usually walk to school
36%
usually go by car to school
4%
usually cycle to school

In question 3, we wanted to look more closely at the ways families travel to and from school. Do parents choose to walk, cycle or scoot to school with their children?

More than a third (39%) of respondents told us their children usually walk to school, while 15% said they often walk. This was the most popular option. Similar numbers usually (36%) or often (14%) travel to school by car. By contrast, only 4% told us they cycle to school every day. More than three-quarters (76%) said their children rarely or never cycle to school, compared with just 28% who rarely or never walk.

While there was an increase from last year in terms of children who usually walk or cycle to school (from 31% and 3% respectively last year), there was also an increase in those who never or rarely walk or cycle (from 25% and 71% respectively last year)

Parents and carers in Northern Ireland were once again most likely to rely on a car, with 58% of respondents saying their children usually travel to school by car, compared with the national average of 36%. This is not reflected by distance travelled to school alone – 72% of children have a journey of less than two miles to school compared to an 80% average.

(It should be noted that the sample size for Northern Ireland was the smallest for this survey, with parents from the region representing less than 3% of survey respondents.).

Overall, relatively small numbers of children appear to go to school by bus regularly, with 11% using a school bus and 12% using a public bus service usually or often. Children in London are most likely to get to school using public transport on a regular basis: 28% use the bus usually or often. This may reflect access to public transport networks in the capital compared with other regions.

Q3: How does your child(ren) travel to and from school?

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Usually

Car/van

17.0%

14.6%

18.2%

13.9%

36.2%

Walk

15.7%

12.3%

17.9%

14.6%

39.5%

Bicycle

60.0%

16.1%

13.9%

6.5%

3.5%

Scooter

61.2%

14.7%

14.6%

6.4%

3.1%

Public bus

66.7%

9.4%

11.8%

6.5%

5.7%

School bus

76.1%

5.6%

7.0%

5.8%

5.5%

Train

85.4%

6.0%

4.9%

2.5%

1.2%

Tram

90.1%

4.1%

2.6%

2.1%

1.2%

Motorbike

91.4%

3.0%

2.8%

1.7%

1.1%

Horse

94.5%

1.9%

1.3%

1.7%

0.7%

In question 4, we asked parents if they would prefer their children were able to actively travel – walking, scooting or cycling - to school more often. More than two-thirds (69%) said yes.

Q4: Would you prefer your child(ren) to walk/cycle/scoot to and from school more often?


Yes

69.1%

No

22.7%

Not sure

8.2%

In question 5, we asked more about the barriers that stop children from walking, cycling or scooting to school more often.

When we asked parents what stopped them from walking, cycling or scooting more often, we found that safety is an issue for many.

More than a third (39%) said it’s not safe to walk, cycle or scoot because roads are too busy, and nearly a quarter (24%) said it’s not safe because traffic is too fast. A further 16% said there are no suitable crossings. Lack of suitable pavements (10%) or suitable cycle paths (12%) was also given as a reason, and 6% of parents said they are worried about levels of air pollution.

Almost a quarter (23%) said they don’t have time to walk, cycle or scoot and 19% said it is too far. Some are not able to walk, cycle or scoot because of a disability.

We then flipped the question to ask parents who don’t think their children should walk, cycle or scoot more often to give their reasons. Safety was again the biggest concern, with 40% saying roads are too busy and 20% saying traffic is too fast. The second most popular reason given (by 30% of respondents) was that they think they already walk, cycle or scoot enough. Parents also told us there aren’t safe or suitable crossing places (14%), pavements (11%) or cycle paths (10%).

Q5a: What stops your child(ren) from walking/cycling/scooting more often?

Sample Size

1,550

Not safe - the roads are too busy

39.2%

Not safe – the vehicles go too fast

23.9%

Not safe - no suitable crossings

16.2%

Concerned about levels of air pollution

6.5%

Not safe – there are no pavements/the pavements are not suitable

9.7%

Not safe – there are no cycle paths/the cycle paths are not suitable

12.4%

It is too far

19.3%

I don’t have enough time

22.6%

I am unable to walk/cycle/scoot with my child(ren) because of a disability

3.5%

My child(ren) is unable to walk/cycle/scoot because of a disability

2.2%

Other

16.0%
Q5b: Why don’t you think your child(ren) should walk/cycle/scoot more often?

Sample Size

455

Not safe - the roads are too busy

39.7%

Not safe – the vehicles go too fast

20.2%

Not safe - no suitable crossings

13.7%

Concerned about levels of air pollution

4.6%

Not safe – there are no pavements/the pavements are not suitable

10.7%

Not safe – there are no cycle paths/the cycle paths are not suitable

9.7%

It is too far

31.4%

I don’t have enough time

7.3%

I am unable to walk/cycle/scoot with my child(ren) because of a disability

2.6%

My child(ren) is unable to walk/cycle/scoot because of a disability

1.9%

I feel we already walk, cycle, scoot enough

30.2%

Other

3.8%

What stops your child(ren) from walking, cycling or scooting more often?

39%
'Roads are too busy'
24%
'Traffic is too fast'
16%
'Not safe - no safe crossing places'

We all want children to be able to travel to and from school safely. But sadly, every day, more than 16 primary schoolchildren are harmed on our roads. We know that excess speed is a factor in about a quarter of fatal crashes – and the physics is pretty straightforward: the faster a vehicle is travelling, the harder it hits and the greater the impact.

Lucy Straker, campaigns manager, Brake
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Benefits of walking, cycling and scooting

For question 6, we turned our attention to the benefits of walking, cycling or scooting to school, asking parents to tell us what they think are the most beneficial reasons.

Exercise was by far the most popular benefit, ranked by 60% as their first, and 17% second (a combined total of 77%).

Fresh air was the next most popular benefit, ranked first or second by more than half of respondents (58%).

Reducing the impact on the environment was also a popular choice, ranked first or second by 23% of respondents.

Q6: Which of the following do you think are the most beneficial reasons for your child(ren) walking / cycling / scooting more often? Please rank them in order from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least beneficial).
1

2

3

4567

Exercise

60%

17%

9%

6%

3%

3%

1%

Fresh air

13%

39%

19%

13%

9%

6%

1%

More environmentally friendly / Reducing our impact on the environment

9%

14%

22%

22%

18%

12%

1%

Reducing the number of vehicles on the road

4%

8%

15%

21%

28%

22%

2%

More quality time together

7%

14%

22%

19%

22%

14%

2%

Save money

6%

7%

12%

17%

16%

39%

2%

Other

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

3%

91%
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Are parents worried about the environment?

In question 7, we asked parents to give us their views on air pollution and reducing environmental impact.

We found that:

  • 58% of parents are concerned about air pollution levels around their child(ren)’s school
  • 83% of parents agree that walking, cycling or scooting to school is an easy way to reduce the impact they and their children have on the environment
  • 79% of parents would like their children to be able to walk to and from school every day.
  • 85% of parents would like to see the government doing more to make their local roads safer.
  • 78% would like roads near their home and children’s schools to have a 20mph speed limit.
Q7: Please read the statements below and select how much you agree/disagree with each

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

I am concerned about the levels of air pollution around my child(ren)’s school

3.0%

15.8%

23.5%

38.2%

19.6%

Walking / cycling / scooting to school is an easy way to reduce the impact me and my child(ren) have on the environment

1.4%

3.1%

12.5%

44.7%

38.4%

I would like my child(ren) to be able to walk to and from school every day

1.4%

5.3%

14.6%

37.0%

41.7%

I would like to see the Government doing more to make roads in my community safer

0.3%

2.1%

12.0%

40.5%

45.1%

Roads near my home and my child(ren)s school should have 20mph speed limits

1.6%

5.7%

14.4%

38.9%

39.4%
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Speeds of traffic near schools

In question 8, we tried to build a picture of the speed of traffic on roads near schools.

Just over a quarter (27%) of parents said that all the roads around their children’s school have a speed limit of 20mph; 46% said that some of the roads were limited to 20mph. However, just over a fifth of respondents (21%) told us that none of the roads near their children’s school had a limit of 20mph.

Q8: Do the roads around your child(ren)’s school have a speed limit of 20mph?

Yes - all

26.8%

Yes - some

46.3%

No - none

20.9%

Not sure

6.0%
39%
said traffic moves too fast even on 20mph roads
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Causes for concern

In question 9, we asked respondents to tell us what particular issues gave them cause for concern near their children’s school.

The behaviour of drivers near school is a particular concern for many. More than half (52%) said that cars parking illegally was a big issue. The second biggest cause for concern appears to be traffic speed: 39% of parents said traffic moves too fast near school, even on roads with 20mph speed limits.

A lack of safe places to cross near school is also a cause for concern, with 32% saying it is an issue; 32% are also concerned there is no school crossing patrol.

Q9: What issues do you see near your child(ren)’s school?

Traffic moves too fast (even on roads that have 20mph speed limits)

38.7%

Traffic moves too fast (even though they are within the speed limit)

27.7%

There are no safe crossing places near the school

31.5%

There is no school crossing patrol

32.0%

Cars often park illegally

51.9%

Cars park legally but block safe walkways

28.6%

The pavements are not suitable

15.4%

There are points where there are no safe walkways

15.7%

There are no designated cycling/scooting routes

23.7%

There are no safe places to park nearby

13.6%

Other

4.8%
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Campaigning for change

At Brake, we believe every child has the right to make safe and healthy journeys where they live, without fear of danger from traffic. Brake’s Kids Walk helps children and their parents call for the things they need to enable their journeys to be safe.

In question 10, we asked parents if they have ever contacted their local councillor or MP about a road safety issue, and nearly two-thirds (64%) told us they have either made contact or want to.

Of the 31% who have been in touch with their councillor or MP, 9% told us that changes had subsequently been made. However, 16% said that nothing had been done and a further 5% said they had received a negative response.

Almost a third (33%) said that want to get in touch about a road safety issue.

Q10: Have you ever contacted your local councillor / member of parliament about road safety issue(s) near your child(ren)’s school?

Yes, and changes have happened

9.0%

Yes, and they replied, but nothing has been done

15.8%

Yes, and they replied negatively

6.2%

No, but I want to

32.7%

No, I don’t need/want to

33.1%

Prefer not to say

3.2%
31%
contacted their MP or councillor about road safety
References Down arrow icon to open accordion
  1. Department for Transport (2023) Reported road casualties in Great Britain: Annual Report 2022 and accompanying data sets
  2. Police Service of Northern Ireland (2024) Road traffic casualties for those aged 4–11 by casualty class: calendar year 2022. Statistics Branch, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Lisnasharragh.
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Brake's Kids Walk 2024 is sponsored by esure and Sheilas' Wheels
Thank you
to our sponsors - we couldn't do it without you!