Nearly a third of parents who drive their children to school say the school run is the worst time for family arguments.
Some parents find it harder to get youngsters to school than to get them to go to bed, a survey by YouGov found.
More than a third of parents who walk their children to school said leaving the car at home was the best way to avoid family rows.
Of those who walk and drive children to school, 41 per cent said they argue less when they are on foot.
The findings follow a Department for Transport survey which showed that 73 per cent of parents felt that walking offered the bonus of spending time talking to their children.
Anjula Mutanda, a psychologist, said: “There are so many external factors that can lead to stress, particularly in the car, and of course quarrels happen more easily when nerves are already frayed.
“The solution is to rid yourself of as many of the unnecessary causes of stress as possible.
“Choosing to walk to school can also prompt us to use better planning and organisational skills.
“Often when we rely on the car, we are tempted to leave at the last minute and rush the children out of the door into the car.
“This can easily lead to tense and frustrating circumstances, making a well-planned walk a far less stressful option.”
The findings were based on responses from 1,666 parents.
