SHOCKING STATISTICS BACK UP CALLS FOR SLOWER SPEEDS AT SCHOOLS

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 18th Mar 2008

Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed calls for 20mph speed limits around schools in Wales to become the norm after new stats show a large increase in the number children going to school by car.

The statistics released by the ONS show that the number of school children aged 5-16 years travelling to school by car has increased by a massive 9% over a 10 year period.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport commented: "The implications of these statistics are far reaching for both the environment and the health of the people of Wales. The government needs to take steps to encourage more young people to be physically active.

"By making the areas around schools safer it will encourage more parents to allow their children to walk and cycle to school, promoting a healthier lifestyle and a reduction in the number of car journeys taken to take children to and from school. It's good for health and good for the planet too."

The British Medical Association has supported calls to introduce the 20 mph zones in order to promote healthier lifestyles in young people and to reduce coronary heart disease in Wales. The disease currently affects half a million Welsh people a year and contributed to 12,400 deaths in 2000 according to BMA figures.

Notes:

Welsh Transport Statistics 2007 - Chapter 6: Personal Travel http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/trans2008/hdw200803181/?lang=en

BMA Cymru Wales manifesto for a healthier Wales available from

http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/improvhealthdelivwales~publicissues