Half of parents fear letting children walk to school because they don't think their neighbourhood is safe enough

Study by AA Streetwatch show 9/10 think that children should walk more
But fewer than 6/10 believe their neighbourhood is safe enough
Findings are at odds with freedom to roam enjoyed by many parents

PUBLISHED: 18:06 EST, 16 July 2013 | UPDATED: 19:12 EST, 16 July 2013

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Only half of parents think their neighbourhood is safe enough for their children to walk through.

And fewer than a third believe their children are safe to ride their bikes, a poll reveals today.

Such fears about playing out are at odds with the freedom to roam enjoyed by many of the parents when they were youngsters.

Only half of parents think their neighbourhood is safe enough for their children to walk through. And fewer than a third believe their children are safe to ride their bikes, a poll reveals today

The study by AA Streetwatch reveals that more than nine out of ten (94 per cent) think that children should walk more.

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However, fewer than six out of ten (56 per cent) believe their neighbourhood is safe enough to do so.

Moves to encourage children to cycle more are supported by nearly eight out of ten people, but fewer than a third feel their local streets offer a secure enough environment

Similarly, moves to encourage children to cycle more are supported by nearly eight out of ten people (76 per cent).

But fewer than a third (31 per cent) feel their local streets offer a secure enough environment.

The responses came from a survey of more than 22,000 AA Streetwatch volunteers who gave their views on roads in their local neighbourhood.

The results also reveal a postcode lottery of safety fears.

Luton came out as the least safe place for children to walk locally.

By contrast, St Albans, just 12 miles down the road, was in the top five safest areas.

Nationally, only one in 14 (7 per cent) agreed with the statement that it is better to take children everywhere by car no matter how short the journey.

Among the areas where people considered it least safe for children walking were Luton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Slough.

Considered the safest were St Albans, Harrogate, Portsmouth, Bromley, Brighton and Bolton.

The lowest proportion of respondents agreeing that children should be encouraged to cycle more was in London (71 per cent).

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Comments (8)

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Well, I suppose middle-class parents registering their children's grandparents/uncles and aunts etc address in order to gain entry to a more suitable school miles and miles away from their actual place of residence has nothing to do with it? If I had to take three buses and walk 1.5 miles as many of the children at my daughters school would have to if their parents didn't drive them every day. When we all (?) attended our local schools we ALL walked. Less obesity and less danger - groups of kids from the same area walked to school together. Problem solved. Of course, accidents happen and no-one wants their children to face uneccesary danger but the media have really done a job on us with their "paedophiles and other criminals on every corner" routine. It's all a load of nonsense of course, and we know it is, but none of us want to be the parent to didn't act "responsibly" toward their child.

- Simno Templar , London, United Kingdom, 17/7/2013 07:54

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Where has Cameron ever shown any real strength and integrity? Although his referendum lie got him into office, it can't disguise his extremely dismal leadership skills. He and his toffy mates are turning the UK into a rats' nest. Remove Cameron now and put in an honest, intelligent leader who CAN fight for the good of England.

- begalu , Heidelberg, Germany, 17/7/2013 07:41

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I agree about riding bikes mainly because of all the school run idiots on the roads and parked at schools. It is as safe to walk to school today as it has been in the past - that is a fact. It is only brainwashing by the media that has caused the present day problems with over protective parents.

- Auger Borer , East Midlands, United Kingdom, 17/7/2013 07:27

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It's because of the continual hysterical headlines from papers like this that convince parents that there is a homicidal peodophile on every street corner waiting to kidnap their children. There isn't

- paul , Norwich, 17/7/2013 07:01

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Parents are doing their children a great disservice by making "everything" dangerous. Children need to learn what is actually dangerous. Risk taking is a necessity to survival and taking away a child's natural instincts (by making everything dangerous), parents are putting their children at greater risk - and also stress.

- Maggie , Oxford, 17/7/2013 05:36

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Maybe parents are worried because they have been influenced by media sensationalism and hysteria. A quick google search for the statistics for crime in the U.K reveals overall crime in 2010 had dropped by 8% since the last time the statistics were examined. Another of the more interesting figures is that of the perception of crime. People were asked whether they think crime is getting worse where they live and nationally. People do think crime is getting worse. It's the gap between what we know is going on and what we think is going on which is heavily influenced by the media.

- Happy Dude , Newcastle NSW, Australia, 17/7/2013 05:28

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It's because of the JUNKIES: there just weren't as many of them around when I was a kid. Now I see them every single DAY and they hassle kids and try and steal mobiles and gaming devices from them to sell for drug money. On top of that, the drugs being used nowadays are stronger, more addictive and have unreliable and often psychotic and violent side effects. And as for the dangers of today's car drivers- my son has seen 2 kids from his school mowed down on school crossings and left with broken legs already.

- Penelope , Australia, 17/7/2013 05:04

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When my daughters old enough to walk alone to school, I will let her. However I will be sneakily following her where she can't see me (just in case). I would rather be labelled an overprotective parent and be safe than be sorry.

- BOOBOO , BLAKBURN, 17/7/2013 03:41

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