ROAD safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger.

This week, he is asking drivers to take extra care as the school run starts again in England.

  *   Don’t compromise your concentration and the safety of other road users by being in a hurry. Leaving the house five minutes earlier changes the nature of how you make the journey.
  *   Take extra care to compensate for the fact that children won’t always be paying attention, especially when approaching the school gate.
  *   Never stop on the yellow “zig zags” by the school gate, and always ensure you let your passengers out on the pavement side.
  *   Try to arrange a car pool with other parents – the fewer vehicles around the school gates, the better.
  *   Roads surrounding schools are usually 20 mph, and for a good reason - it’s essential that you slow down and keep an eye out for children crossing the road and emerging from between parked cars.
  *   New starters in reception class are unlikely to understand the dangers that the road outside their school presents – bare this in mind when driving nearby and keep your eyes peeled for children wandering into the road alone.
  *   If your children are walking to school on their own, make sure they are aware of potential hazards such as crossing busy roads – encourage them to always use the pedestrian crossing if there is one.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “The school run brings with it a 20 per cent growth in rush hour traffic. A little preparation can go a long way to making the school run easier, safer and less stressful, so take the extra time and plan ahead.”