P Porter-Jones (Oxford Mail, December 14) pointed out that our roads are very much less busy when they are free of school traffic.
I’m afraid the problem was created largely by those who decided that children who live less than three miles from the secondary school within their designated catchment area are not entitled to free transport.
In my judgement, children as young as 11 years of age should not be expected to walk or cycle up to three miles to school and up to three miles back, carrying a bag of books and often on lonely unlit roads or even busy main roads.
The solution lies in the hands of the authorities which set the threshold for free travel at three miles. Two miles would be a more sensible limit.
After all, in many cases the coaches arrive at school only half-full, in which case there would be no added expense.
DR JOHN SANDALLS, Locks Lane, Wantage
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