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Air Pollution, Road Safety and Children's Independent Mobility
Air Pollution
Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental health risks we face today, and it’s largely invisible.
Caused by a mix of particles and gases, much of it comes from road traffic, especially in urban areas.
Two of the most harmful pollutants are nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), produced by engine combustion, and particulate matter (PM), which comes not only from exhaust fumes but also from tyre and brake wear.
These pollutants can linger in the air we breathe every day, even inside our homes and schools. The health effects are wide-ranging and often long-term, contributing to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and increasingly being linked to conditions like dementia and low birth weight.
While anyone can be affected, children are particularly vulnerable due to their developing lungs and faster breathing rates.
The good news is that reducing air pollution - even by small amounts! - can have a big impact. Studies show that cutting levels of PM could extend average life expectancy more than eliminating road deaths or even passive smoking.
Cleaner air means longer, healthier lives, and fewer children growing up surrounded by preventable health risks.
Further reading...
Road Safety
The school run isn’t just a busy time, it’s also one of the most dangerous parts of the day on our roads. Each morning and afternoon, streets around schools become congested with cars, creating chaotic and often hazardous conditions for children trying to walk, cycle or scoot to school.
National data shows that thousands of children are injured in road collisions every year, with peak school drop-off and pick-up times posing the highest risk. Speeding vehicles, poor visibility, and dangerous parking all contribute to a road environment that many parents simply don’t trust - and with good reason.
In neighbourhoods like NW3, where schools are often clustered together on narrow residential roads, the risks are even higher. Pavements can be blocked, crossings are limited or unsafe, and the volume of cars during peak times can make active travel feel impossible.
For children to travel to school independently and safely, we need calmer, slower, and more people-friendly streets.
Improving road safety isn’t just about preventing accidents, it’s about enabling healthier, more active lifestyles and building confidence in walking and cycling from a young age.
Further reading...
Children's Independent Mobility
It wasn’t long ago that children routinely walked or cycled to school, popped over to a friend’s house, or played in the park, all without needing an adult to accompany them. This freedom, known as independent mobility, was once a normal part of growing up. But today, it's rapidly disappearing.
Parents understandably worry about traffic, road safety, and personal security. As a result, more and more children are being driven short distances - to school, to activities, even just to a friend down the road - leading to a vicious cycle of increased traffic, more danger, and even less freedom for the next generation.
This decline has real consequences. Children who aren’t able to move around their neighbourhoods independently miss out on vital opportunities to develop confidence, decision-making skills, spatial awareness, and resilience. They lose the chance to learn how to navigate the world on their own terms. And perhaps most importantly, they lose daily opportunities for physical activity and social connection, the very things that support long-term health and wellbeing.
At Green School Runs, we believe that children deserve the right to move freely and safely in their communities. Reclaiming this freedom means rethinking how we design our streets and prioritise our public spaces - with children’s needs at the centre.