School pupils across Leeds are asking parents, carers and the wider community to rethink their travel habits on the school run, with the help of a new short film.
The film, created by Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, features dashcam footage from a fire engine cockpit navigating streets outside four Leeds schools during pick-up time.
In the footage, parked vehicles clog the roads, highlighting the challenges that emergency services can face when attending incidents at drop-off and pick-up times.
Former children’s mayor, Mohammed, narrates the film, which can be watched on YouTube, giving voice to the concerns of young people across Leeds who want to travel safely and sustainably to and from school.
The message to parents and carers is clear: choose walking, cycling and wheeling when you can, park further from school gates and drive to school less often to create safer spaces for everyone.
Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development, said: “It’s great to see the emergency services working with our safe and sustainable travel team to raise awareness of issues around dangerous and inconsiderate parking at pick-up and drop-off times at schools in Leeds.
“We want Leeds to be the best city for all young people to grow up in and ensuring a safer journey to school is a key part of that.
“If we encourage parents and carers to choose walking, cycling or wheeling, or to park further away from school gates, we can help improve road safety in local communities and create a better environment for families to travel safely and sustainably to and from school.”
Two new School Streets launched in Leeds
More than 200 pupils in Leeds have become the latest local youngsters to benefit from a scheme that makes journeys to and from school safer, healthier and more enjoyable.
School Streets create a safer and more pleasant environment for children and families by restricting motorised traffic and turning the space outside school gates into a pedestrian and cyclist-only zone during pick-up and drop-off times.
A total of 15 schools in Leeds have previously signed up to the scheme, which aims to ease traffic congestion and tackle poor air quality while also improving safety.
Now two more – Ireland Wood Primary and St Bartholomew’s Primary – have followed suit.
Cllr Jonathan Pryor added: “I’m thrilled to see two more schools joining the School Streets programme in Leeds this year, as it continues to make a significant difference in promoting road safety and sustainability in local communities.
“With just over 30% of primary school children in Leeds still driven to school, the school run contributes to congestion, pollution, and increased road safety risks around schools.”
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