MORE American-style yellow school buses could be introduced in Essex to cut traffic congestion, it has emerged.First is aiming to encourage both primary and secondary schools to consider the benefits of introducing such a service.

MORE American-style yellow school buses could be introduced in Essex to cut traffic congestion, it has emerged.

First is aiming to encourage both primary and secondary schools to consider the benefits of introducing such a service.

The yellow buses are an enormous success in North America, with over 22 million students transported every day.

Several yellow buses are already in operation in Essex at Ingatestone, Chelmsford and Colchester.

The new campaign follows a survey last month carried out by the website raisingkids.co.uk, showing that many parents are looking for an alternative transport for the school run.

The research showed that approximately 39% of primary school children travel to school by car, which is four times more than their parents' generation, and around 21% of secondary school children are driven by car, which is over three times more than the previous generation.

The survey revealed that around 86% of parents would use a dedicated school bus service to get their children to school and back safely if the service was offered in the area.

Nick Field, campaign leader for First and special operations controller said: “Our own experience of operating yellow bus schemes in both the UK and North America shows that this is a tried and tested way of delivering a high quality, safe and reliable home to school transport system.

“Over 50% of children in North America travel to school in yellow buses, around 10 times the number who do in the UK.

“The buses are popular with the children who recognise them from American films and they enjoy travelling in them.

“Their parents and teachers also value the quality and security of service they provide.”

First claimed the main benefit of a dedicated school bus service is that the environmental damages caused by school run congestion would be cut by over 50%.

The initiative also comes as a new Climate Change Strategy is announced from First's parent company, FirstGroup Plc.

The energy saving strategy lays down set targets with the aim of reducing the level of carbon dioxide emissions in both the bus and train transport divisions.