MPs from Somerset are ramping up pressure on the government to prioritize road safety measures and invest in active travel infrastructure, citing increasing traffic congestion and heightened accident risks in rural areas as major concerns for children’s safety on their way to school.
During a recent debate in Westminster Hall, Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, lauded the opening of a new car-free path along the A378 by the Curry Rivel Active Travel Group, emphasizing the crucial safe space it provides for students from local primary schools and the area’s academy.
Sarah stressed the significance of investing in active travel routes to support secure and sustainable school journeys, particularly in rural settings, where approximately half of local pupils are ineligible for free secondary school transport.
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Meanwhile, Brian Mathew, Liberal Democrat MP for Melksham and Devizes, underlined the importance of instilling healthy habits and road safety awareness in children from an early age. He pointed to elevated traffic congestion during term time in towns like Bradford-on-Avon as a key issue, amplifying the risks for road users, especially youngsters.
Brian emphasized the essentiality of allowing children to safely walk or cycle to school, not only to instill healthy habits and environmental awareness but also to impart crucial road safety lessons, promote independence, and contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.
Drawing from his past experience as a Wiltshire councillor, Brian highlighted collaborative efforts with road safety groups and the Wiltshire Climate Alliance, expressing optimism that the forthcoming government road safety strategy would yield more effective results.
Keying into these concerns, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood acknowledged the government’s commitment to improving conditions for active travel. He particularly emphasized the potential of high-quality, accessible infrastructure to significantly reduce road collisions and fatalities, also noting the progress made by Active Travel England in meeting minimum quality standards for infrastructure projects.
The minister assured that the government’s upcoming road safety strategy would encompass various measures aimed at safeguarding vulnerable road users, with a focus on reducing the alarming number of road-related fatalities, particularly among children.
Additionally, pavement parking emerged as a recurring concern, with the minister confirming the Department for Transport’s intention to address the issue following a 2020 consultation. Local authorities were also reminded of their enforcement powers regarding pavement parking restrictions while awaiting further guidance from the department.