The UK charity behind the biggest walk to school campaign is encouraging Lanarkshire families to leave the car at home for this month's International Walk to School Month.
Living Streets has highlighted results of the Reported road casualties Great Britain data released by the Department for Transport that revealed people drove more last year than in 2020 and how, at the same time, road casualties started to increase.
Casualty numbers remained lower than the pre-pandemic levels but are higher compared to 2020 when restrictions were tighter and motor traffic usage lower.
Stephen Edwards, chief executive, Living Streets, told Lanarkshire Live : "We all saw the benefits to our health and air quality when we walked more and drove less.
"Quieter streets are safer, cleaner and healthier streets. Where possible, we should avoid a return to the car and instead walk, wheel or cycle our short journeys.
“Making small changes can also help alleviate some of the rising living costs we are all facing, while we reap the health, social and environmental benefits of moving more.”
Living Streets is being supported by children's television presenter Dr Ronx, who has joined the charity as the celebrity ambassador for WOW - their walk to school challenge.
Dr Ronx said: "October is International Walk to School Month - the perfect opportunity to give walking to school a go.
"Walking to school is simple, fun and free. More children walking to school means fewer cars around the school gates, better air quality, less congestion and less road danger.
“With notable increases in air pollution, rising childhood inactivity and post-lockdown poor mental health, encouraging children to be more active and ditching school run drives for more sustainable modes of transport is imperative.”
Living Streets is running a prize draw throughout October and encouraging Lanarkshire residents to share their #WalkToSchoolStories, whether they are walking to school now with children or grandchildren or sharing a childhood memory.
Head online to enter the prize draw, and for free walking resources.
