US-style School Bus Plans Unveiled
Primary school children should be served by US-style yellow school buses, a David Blunkett-chaired commission has recommended.The Yellow School Bus Commission’s report pointed to the benefits of the initiative being a reduction in road congestion, a safe route to and from school and the positive environmental effects.
After a 12-month review of school transport, and 20 pilot schemes being launched in the UK, catering for 6,600 pupils, Blunkett concluded that the introduction of the buses could "revolutionise" the traditional school run.
The cross-party commission drew attention to the fact that 41 per cent of primary school pupils and 21 per cent of secondary school pupils were being driven to school, equating to the accountability for about one million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
But by implementing school buses across the country, millions of fewer car journeys would be made each year, as a result.
Blunkett said: "This is about broad and highly relevant political issues as well as, crucially, the education, safety and security of our children.
"We are proposing a long-term programme which could revolutionise the way we do the school run."
As far as costs are concerned, the report suggests that about £154m would be needed for the primary school scheme and £50-100m would be required for the service serving secondary school pupils.
And it recommends that a fee of £1 or £2 be paid by parents per day for the service, with those claiming free schools meals travelling for free.
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