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In a rather surprising turn of events, with recent news from Cornwall live, taxis from as far away as Essex and Shropshire have been transporting children to North Petherwin Primary School in Cornwall, leaving parents and locals astonished.

One parent, Adam Paynter, was taken aback when he discovered that a taxi had travelled 300 miles from Essex to pick up his son for the four-mile journey to school. Another driver, assigned to transport three other pupils to the same school, had driven nearly 250 miles from Shropshire.

Cornwall Council has explained that the taxi company is local but is in the process of establishing itself in Cornwall. During this transition, they have temporarily enlisted drivers from other regions who have already undergone safety checks.

Cornwall Council stated that the taxi company is working to establish itself in Cornwall and is in the process of hiring local drivers. The council clarified that it is not covering the costs of the drivers’ travel or accommodation, emphasising that this is a temporary solution until local drivers are available.

For now, it appears that students at North Petherwin may continue to see taxis from far-off places arriving to take them to school, despite the ongoing debate about the cost and environmental impact of this arrangement.

Supporting councils with sourcing local taxi services, long-term planning and coordination

Flexiroute home-to-school transport can offer several advantages and improvements to address the challenges associated with school transportation, including issues such as the use of distant taxi services.

Here’s just a few:

  • Efficient Routing: Flexiroute uses advanced routing algorithms to optimise school transportation routes. This ensures that students are picked up and dropped off in the most efficient and timely manner, reducing travel times and minimising vehicle emissions.
  • Flexible Scheduling: The system allows for flexible scheduling to accommodate varying school start and end times, extracurricular activities, and special transportation needs. This flexibility ensures that students can access transportation services that align with their individual schedules.
  • Environmental Impact Reduction: By optimising routes and reducing unnecessary travel distances, Flexiroute contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions and a more environmentally sustainable school transportation system.
  • Improved Safety: The system enhances safety by ensuring that routes are designed to avoid high-risk areas and by providing real-time monitoring of vehicle locations. It can also alert drivers and authorities in case of emergencies or unusual incidents.
  • Data Analytics: The system collects data on transportation performance, which can be analysed to identify areas for improvement and optimise future transportation planning.

To find out more, speak to us today by visiting: https://www.allocatesoftware.com/transport-management-system/

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