Nine in ten parents have experienced road rage during the school run, according to a recent study. Research involving 1,000 mums and dads who undertake the morning drop-off revealed that traffic is a significant source of irritation. Cars parked irresponsibly or obstructing the road, and speeding motorists were among the top complaints.
Shockingly, 30% of respondents' children have narrowly avoided being hit by another vehicle, and 5% have actually been involved in a collision. A fifth believe poor driving behaviour around schools worsens after the holidays as the roads become busier and families are readjusting to the school routine.
Driving Deterioration and Stress
Furthermore, 38% believe driving around school has deteriorated in recent years, with a whopping 71% finding the experience stressful. Consequently, 34% have either cut down on driving their children to school altogether – with an additional 34% contemplating doing the same.
A spokesperson for IAM RoadSmart, a road safety charity which commissioned the research, said: "The school run can be one of the most challenging times of day for drivers, parents and children alike. Many families are juggling work commitments, busy schedules and the pressure of getting everyone where they need to be on time, so it's understandable people can sometimes feel rushed."
Rushed Driving Behaviours
The research found almost a third (29%) confessed to driving faster than they meant to because they were running late. A further 28% have sounded their horn during the drop-off, while 27% have parked somewhere they ordinarily wouldn't, and 13% acknowledged using a mobile phone while stationary in traffic.
In total, 39% said they feel hurried when driving their child to and from school most days. Alarmingly, 41% claimed being rushed had a detrimental impact on their driving, data from OnePoll.com revealed.
Safety Improvements and Calls for Action
The greatest annoyances about the school run are the number of cars around the school gates (35%), parents hurrying or driving impatiently (32%) and lengthy queues (31%).
When questioned on what could be done to enhance safety around schools, there were calls for more designated drop-off areas (40%), better enforcement of illegal parking (39%) and reduced speed limits (36%). Others want more visible school crossing patrols (26%), more traffic-calming measures (26%) and even staggered drop-off or pick-up times (25%).
A spokesperson for IAM RoadSmart added: "It is worth remembering children are always watching. The habits they see from adults today can shape the attitude they take into the driver's seat in years to come. Whether it's speeding, aggressive driving, illegal parking or using a phone behind the wheel, our actions send a powerful message."
