are commuters the problem or is it school traffic?

The Running Man · 29 May 2013 at 19:45

There have been many complaints about commuters, trying to force us to use public transport more, opening bus lanes and depriving car drivers of faster moving traffic systems.

However around my way it seems that the vast majority of in town traffic on my commute is actually school traffic.

Are we approaching the traffic problems incorrectly by increasing car tax, fuel tax etc and claiming this is to improve our road networks when instead simply changing school start times to not coincide with the typical business day might solve so many problems?

GT3 · 29 May 2013 at 19:51

School traffic! My commute is halved in time when the kids are off school like this week!

paradigm · 29 May 2013 at 19:55

Or change the way people assume "business" hours are 9-5.

I work 7-3 and never EVER hit the kind of traffic that clogs up roads.

Dead Dog · 29 May 2013 at 19:57

LOL - you sure notice when the sproggs are on holiday, then again if everyone had a week off I'm sure the roads would be bloody baron!

Kenai · 29 May 2013 at 19:58

I get to work in half the time during holidays and half terms etc.

PinkFloyd · 29 May 2013 at 19:59

Definitely school traffic for me... Tonnes of parents in huge 4x4s with one kid in the back driving like tools

In school holiday's there is barely any traffic!

SDK^ · 29 May 2013 at 20:05

It's the school traffic that clogs up the road. Warwick is a ghost town this week but normally it takes me 20 mins to travel through the centre (2 miles).

The Running Man · 29 May 2013 at 20:07

Its not just the school traffic delivering kids either its the kids pressing the button at crossings producing much in town traffic trying to get past.

If the gov really wanted to reduce accidents on the road and massively reduce co2 they would mandate a 10am school start.

paintguy · 29 May 2013 at 20:09

GT3 said:
My commute is halved in time when the kids are off school like this week!

Same here.

So it's either school traffic or the fact that parents are not driving to work as they are at home looking after their kids.

The Running Man · 29 May 2013 at 20:11

Its undoubtedly a bit of both but its not as though half the seats are empty at my work in the hols.

Jez · 29 May 2013 at 20:12

In my opinion (from observation) it is not school traffic which is the issue. The primary reason that the roads are quieter during school holidays is due to the fact that the workforce at most places of work is greatly reduced during school holidays, as parents naturally book annual leave to match these dates.

Theophany · 29 May 2013 at 20:12

I take the train to work and drive out to see clients. Strangely enough the usual motorway rush hour retards are out in full force changing lanes without looking, riding the brakes, tailgating etc.

DannyW · 29 May 2013 at 20:16

I start work at 6.30 am, don't know what this traffic malarkey is

Lunatic Dreyfus · 29 May 2013 at 20:17

Use the same roads everyday and the answer is blindingly obvious. School traffic. That and the endless stream of pupils strolling over zebra crossings. Of course you can run the counter argument about parents being off work, but it's all kid related one way or the other.

The downside to easier rush hours is that supermarkets are full of families wandering around like zombies.

Outcast · 29 May 2013 at 21:03

I'm a night trunker trucker.. What is this "rush hour" thingy that thoust speaketh ?

laiman · 29 May 2013 at 21:05

Do all you 9-5 workers experience traffic similarly in the evening on your return home? In my experience traffic in and around the city is fine right up until the offices empty at 5pm, literally at 4:50pm I'll be out of the city in 5 minutes but after 5pm it can be 40min+. With schools all being well finished by then I doubt they are the cause.

[TW]Fox · 29 May 2013 at 21:12

SDK^ said:
It's the school traffic that clogs up the road. Warwick is a ghost town this week but normally it takes me 20 mins to travel through the centre (2 miles).

It's not so much school traffic as in people going to school but the fact that many people take half term off to look after kids - so there is less 'work traffic', too.

Very few of the cars I crawl along in traffic beside have school kids in during term time. I suspect the fact it's much quieter is because less people go to work.

The Running Man · 29 May 2013 at 21:50

laiman said:
Do all you 9-5 workers experience traffic similarly in the evening on your return home? In my experience traffic in and around the city is fine right up until the offices empty at 5pm, literally at 4:50pm I'll be out of the city in 5 minutes but after 5pm it can be 40min+. With schools all being well finished by then I doubt they are the cause.

im 9 till half 5 and when I leave there's little traffic, but still school kids!!!

flipface · 29 May 2013 at 22:03

Traffic , pah.
I just filter through it. Simple.

SDK^ · 29 May 2013 at 22:37

[TW]Fox;24362525 said:
It's not so much school traffic as in people going to school but the fact that many people take half term off to look after kids - so there is less 'work traffic', too.

Absolutely true.
But if people are off work looking after their children then how are those children getting to school during term time? Are you suggesting that a larger portion of children walk or get the school bus than are driven in by parents?

[TW]Fox;24362525 said:
Very few of the cars I crawl along in traffic beside have school kids in during term time. I suspect the fact it's much quieter is because less people go to work.

Most people I know drive their children to school and then carry onto work (including myself). So someone on the street looking at me in my car alone doesn't know I have already done the school run.