Hazel Grove High School students join Stockport Council in a campaign to get parents to turn their car engines off while waiting for their children on the school pickup run.
In December 2020, Stockport Council launched a campaign called ‘Turn it Off’, which urged parents and guardians to turn off their engines when waiting for children at school pick-up times.
Poor air quality is the largest environmental public health issue facing the UK and is estimated to contribute to the equivalent of 1,200 deaths in Greater Manchester each year.
One of the most common places for cars to be left idling is close to schools at drop off and pick up times.
This means school children are being exposed to increased and unnecessary air pollution. Air pollution affects health throughout our life, but it affects children more so as their lungs are still growing.
The campaign is asking parents and guardians to:
• Switch off their engines at the school gates and on surrounding roads when dropping children off.
• Get their children to catch the school bus if they are able to as it will help to cut down harmful air pollution, and tackle congestion.
• Walk or cycle to school. If parents can, try and leave the car at home and walk or cycle with their children to school. This will also help children be healthy and active growing up and is a great way to avoid the school run.