Motoring tips from the IAM on the school run return

I hate be the bearer of sad news, but summer is nearly over. Many kids and students have been dreading the month of September. It means saying goodbye to staying up late and spending all day enthralled in the latest video game, as school resumes in a few days’ time. The hustle and bustle of getting children up and ready early in the mornings can soon be heard from many a home today (annoyingly for me it means the 6am clamour from my neighbours with kids will grow ever louder), plus the return of parental routine of the school run resumes and for those of us who live near to a school, this will soon give us a legitimate excuse as to why we are late to work.

Just in time for the start of this sacred tradition where a multitude of parents happily shuffle their little angels to and from the school gates; driving the latest SUV, minivan, or a range of anything family sized, the road safety charity IAM is offering their weekly motoring tips on this very topic.

Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger is asking drivers to take extra care as the school run starts again in the UK. See his informative advice below, which was published and posted on the IAM's website on 29th August.

Too fuel for school

• Don’t compromise your concentration and the safety of other road users by being in a hurry. Leaving the house five minutes earlier changes the nature of how you make the journey.


• Take extra care to compensate for the fact that children won’t always be paying attention, especially when approaching the school gate.


• Never stop on the yellow “zig zags” by the school gate, and always ensure you let your passengers out on the pavement side.


• Try to arrange a car pool with other parents – the fewer vehicles around the school gates, the better.


• Roads surrounding schools are usually 20 mph, and for a good reason - it’s essential that you slow down and keep an eye out for children crossing the road and emerging from between parked cars.


• New starters in reception class are unlikely to understand the dangers that the road outside their school presents – bare this in mind when driving nearby and keep your eyes peeled for children wandering into the road alone.


• If your children are walking to school on their own, make sure they are aware of potential hazards such as crossing busy roads – encourage them to always use the pedestrian crossing if there is one.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “The school run brings with it a 20 per cent growth in rush hour traffic. A little preparation can go a long way to making the school run easier, safer and less stressful, so take the extra time and plan ahead.”

To read more of the IAM's informative weekly driving and riding tips, please click here.