Survey Claims Parents Are Behaving Badly Outside The School Gates

TENSIONS are rising outside school gates up and down the country - that’s the picture painted by the latest survey from insurance company Allianz Your Cover.

School-run squabbles over parking spots are on the increase, with as many as 75% of people taking children to or from school have witnessed aggressive behaviour among those seeking to park. Nearly two in five have seen or heard about car accidents between parents outside school gates.

Based on responses from 1,000 adults who take children to school at least once a week, the survey also showed that 79% would like to see 20mph speed limit zones around schools, with the zones as far out as a quarter of a mile.

Also, 19% worry about children going to and from school on their own in the dark winter months, while 14% are concerned about accidents in the winter.

Commenting on the survey, Jon Lott, of Allianz Your Cover Insurance, said: "We support calls for increased safety around schools. Getting children to the school gates safely is of the upmost importance and often the competition for parking spaces, busy parents and the need to be on time can distract from this."

By Press Association reporters