Letter: Curbed cars? Dream on

BEN PLOWDEN's excellent article did not mention the impact that increased car usage, particularly for school journeys, is having on the health of the nation. Mr Plowden's recently published document, The School Run: Blessing or Blight, recognises that by driving to school parents are protecting their children from some immediate dangers, but they are also depriving them of a rare opportunity for physical exercise. British children lead increasingly sedentary, sheltered lives. At the same time health problems among children, such as obesity, are rising, and they are losing the chance to learn about the world on their own.

Walking to school represents a significant proportion of the distance walked by all children each year, making its contribution to their overall physical activity all the more important. As it is, today's inactive children are likely to become tomorrow's inactive adults.

PHILIP PITTOCK

Birchington, Kent