School Streets for safer and healthier towns and cities

A School Street is a road outside a school where motor traffic is restricted at drop-off and pick-up times. Often, the local authority will install signs notifying motorists of the time restrictions. Exemptions are made to the people living in the School Street, emergency services and Blue Badge holders.

Sometimes, the only difference between before and after the School Street is installed is the signage showing the time restrictions and enforcement cameras.

There are examples of School Streets which have made the most of reduced traffic to completely redesign the streetscape to include new planting, street furniture and cycle parking.

Benefits of School Streets include:

• Safer street environment
• Reduction in air pollution
• Increase in the number of children travelling to school more actively: walking, wheeling and cycling
• Reduced traffic congestion

Each case is different. The local authority and school will need to take into consideration the location of the school and the practicalities of a School Street in the school setting. This includes the road network in the immediate area, the type of roads and any existing traffic management schemes in place.

Data regarding traffic volume, traffic speed, road safety and air pollution all can flag an issue that could be resolved by having a School Street.

Budget will also be part of the consideration.

Yes. The council has to consult with residents and others who would be affected by timed traffic restrictions such as businesses as well as the school community.

Most commonly local authorities use ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to enforce the School Street. In some cases, councils may trial signage-only closures, or use bollards or cones as a physical closure during the operational times.

Schools can also conduct their own research into compliance by using tools such as travel surveys and traffic counters.

Emergency service vehicles are automatically exempt.

In many cases local authorities exempt residents living within the School Street. This is not automatic and requires eligible groups to apply for an exemption – the eligible groups vary based on the local authority’s policy.

1. Scoping potential locations for School Streets: Based on a transparent prioritisation matrix, it is possible to rank schools based on ‘need’. We then assess each school locationfor suitability, taking into account community demand for a School Street, evidence of congestion, road safety issues as well as health concerns about air pollution. We then recommend which locations would benefit from a feasibility study which informs the local authority of the likelihood of a successful School Street.
2. Engagement and consultation: we engage a diverse range of people from residents, to teaching staff, pupils and local businesses to build support and enable the community to help shape School Street proposals.
3. Keeping the community informed leading up to and after the School Street has been implemented and providing people with a way of feeding back about their experience of the School Street once it is operating.