Drivers 'ditch cars' for school run to save themselves from £177 charge

Drivers 'ditch cars' for school run to save themselves from £177 charge
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Four in 10 children in Central London are choosing other modes of transport to get to school due to the roll out of Ulez, a new report has found. Schoolchildren living in London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) were nearly four times as likely to switch to walking and cycling after its introduction compared with those outside the zone, new research suggests.

The authors said that further monitoring is needed, but it is evidence for other cities of the potential impact of clean air zones. Aidan Rushby, CEO of Carmoola, explained: "As more families embrace walking and cycling in ULEZ zones, it's evident that these initiatives are not only enhancing air quality but households are also saving on the cost of the school run.

"Our recent calculations into the cost of the school run found that families are saving nearly £2,500 over the course of 11 years of schooling by opting for walking, or cycling, and are saving a staggering £1,500 by driving EVs."

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Over the course of a year, parents who use a petrol vehicle will typically pay £177 to do the school run, whereas those with a diesel car often spend £157. "This study is important because it addresses multiple, interconnected health issues that children face today," said Dr Christina Xiao, the lead author of the study, and a population health researcher at the University of Cambridge.

"We know that [car and van] use negatively impacts children's health by reducing opportunities for physical activity and increasing exposure to air pollution, which can contribute to conditions like childhood asthma," she said.

London's walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said: "The Mayor and I are delighted that this study shows our decisive action is having an impact. The decision to introduce the Ultra Low Emission Zone was a major step forward in our work to tackle London’s toxic air. It was a difficult decision, but necessary to save lives."

Neil Garratt, member of the London Assembly and leader of the city's Conservative Group, said: "This study confirms what we have been saying all along, which is the benefits of the Ulez in central London, which the study is looking at, are large and the costs are quite small."