Passport to road safety promotes walking to school

A new Passport Scheme, which promotes walking to school, has been launched by St Helens Council’s Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team.

It is being piloted at Sutton Oak C of E Primary School and follows the Council’s Walk it Safer child pedestrian training which was set up through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The Passport Scheme promotes sustainable travel such as walking or cycling to and from school, which is part of the national Travel to School Initiative. It also forms part of Sutton Oak’s Travel Plan that investigates pupils’ commuting habits.  

The scheme involves pupils being given a passport booklet and having it stamped every day they walk to school.  Alongside this the school is running a competiton to see which gains the most passport stamps. Pupils who live too far away to walk to school can also take part as new park and stride” areas have been identified from where adults can park their cars and walk youngsters to the school gate.

The scheme aims to promote sustainable travel and healthy lifestyles, encourage walking and make the roads safer by reducing congestion around schools.  Fewer cars on the roads also reduces the amount of harmful gases being released into the atmosphere which can trigger asthma in children and are major contributors to climate change.

Sue Smith from Sutton Oak and a number of volunteers worked alongside the Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team to set up the scheme.  To find out more call Peter Almond on 01744 456852 or Kathryn Barker on 01744 671655.

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Press release issued: May 2 2007