Call for US-style school buses

A report by the independent Yellow School Bus Commission concluded that such a scheme would offer a number of benefits, including giving children and parents a safe way of getting to and from school. It would also reduce congestion, benefit the environment and improve attendance times for schools.

The Commission, chaired by MP David Blunkett, conducted a year-long review of school transport and found that the numbers travelling to school by car has doubled in the last 20 years.

In total, 41% of primary school children and 21% of secondary school children are now taken to school by car, making up one in five car journeys during the morning rush hour.

It concluded dedicated yellow buses should be provided for primary school children living more than a mile away from their school.

At secondary school, those living more than two miles away should be given a dedicated bus if there are limited bus services in the area, if there are serious behaviour problems with pupils on public buses or if they can be linked up with primary school buses.

The Commission, which included members of all the main political parties, found that the introduction of yellow school buses would reduce unnecessary car journeys by up to 180 million a year.

The Commission's report estimates that funding of up to £10,000 per school would be needed to introduce buses to primary schools, which would act as an incentive for schools to work together to maximise use of the vehicles.

It suggested parents would pay between £1 and £2 per day for their child to travel on the bus, except those entitled to free school meals or free school transport. The additional annual cost of the service would run to £154 million, the report estimated. But it added that school buses could have financial benefits to the tune of £460 million a year, with parents saving £92 million on fuel and other car costs.

The secondary school scheme, which would cost between £50 million-£100 million, could take up to 50 million cars off the road.