School starts – what should be considered?

Police Superintendent Jennifer from Directorate Traffic, gives tips and hints about traffic safety advice. These are not only addressed to the parents and children, but also to the other road users:

The new school year starts and the first graders begins a new phase of life. In addition to new impressions and expectations of the school itself, the children are confronted for the first time of the dangers of road traffic. In order for the children to become safe and self-confident road users, we would like to inform you here about how you can accompany and support your children on this journey.

Children are not “little adults”

Children perceive the traffic differently. You still cannot estimate speed and distances like adults. It is not possible for them to know which direction a sound is coming from and it is also difficult for them to filter important and unimportant noise. Because of their height they have a different angle; they cannot look over cars and their gaze is obscured by many obstacles. Even her field of vision is about one third smaller than in adults up to the age of 8 years. Children do not have any dangerous awareness yet. They mix imagination and reality. They can also be distracted easily in traffic and often react impulsively. They then run thoughtlessly and without concentration across the street. The conversion from near to far-sightedness also happens to children with a delay. So there are many reasons to prepare children for school in good time.

Walk to school

Give your child an early opportunity to get to know and explore the way to school. Practice correct behavior with possible danger points (exits, construction sites, parking cars) and use existing crossing aid (pedestrian traffic light, crosswalks, traffic islands). Many schools have school maps that can help you choose a safe way to school, because the rarest cases. The shortest route is the safest. Distractions such as mobile phones, music and wearing headphones should be taboo during the school trip, because they only distract your child from additional distraction. Inquire with classmates and their parents. This is more fun and also relieves a little. It is advisable to allow plenty of time in the mornings, so that your child does not have to travel to school on a stressful day or even have to run to school. In order for your child to be seen early by other road users, we recommend brighter and, if possible, reflective clothing. In the first classes, all children will be provided with reflective safety vests by the ADAC, which can save their lives on the way to school.

By car to school

If you bring your child to school by car, remember that it takes a suitable child seat to strap on until the age of 12 or up to a height of 1.50 m. Use seats with backrest as long as possible and change as late as possible to the so-called seat shells. It is always important that the belt of the vehicle is clearly guided over the clavicle of the child and does not go along the neck. Always have your child get off the sidewalk side, taking care of cycling and walking.

Leave the car in the garage

Your child can only become a safer road user if they get the chance to experience their environment independently. A so-called island hopping (to be taken by car to a friend, to school, to sport, etc.) hinders her child. In addition, the large number of vehicles in front of the school in the morning causes a real traffic chaos and it can lead to dangerous traffic situations.

If it is not possible for you to complete the way to school completely on foot, then park a bit away from the school. Dare your child a walk of 200-700m and make the way to school a ritual. Your child can gain experience on the road along the way, learn to recognize danger, to estimate distances. It enjoys the fresh air and will arrive waking up at school. It can also go along with classmates and exchange with them before class.

The idea of not driving up to the school by car is worth it! Not only you and your child benefit from it, but also teachers and residents as well as the police. You also support climate protection with it. Some schools offer projects on this topic. (Walking bus, traffic tamer, etc.) Inquire.

By bike to school

In the lower classes, we advise against letting your child go to school by bike alone. Children of this age are quickly overwhelmed with the bicycle in traffic. The cycle is driving training, which we carry out with your children. Therefore takes place only in the 4th grade. If you decide to accompany your child to school by bicycle, there is nothing to stop them from a police point of view. It trains your child and makes it familiar with the traffic reality. However, you should pay a lot of attention: your child should already be safe in dealing with their own bike and control it so well that it can pay full attention to the traffic. Wearing a bicycle helmet and a vest with reflective material is more than recommended. Children up to their 8th birthday have to, older children up to the 10th birthday are allowed to ride their bicycles on the sidewalk. You may accompany your child to the age of 8 years of cycling on the pavement. Take advantage of two existing walkways always the right one. Particular attention should be paid to the entrances and exits. When crossing the road, at traffic lights and crosswalks must be lowered and pushed. Cycle paths may yet use the children, but then only in the prescribed direction. Once your child drives on the road, the bike must be roadworthy. Make sure there is enough air in the tires. Choosing the way to school when riding a bicycle is especially important. Pay attention to the help of the crossing.

No matter which school you choose, be sensitive and respond to questions and fears of your children. But also promote his independence.

Be a role model because children learn by imitation and are guided by family role models.

Accompanying the policy in the first classes, pedestrian training, to practice the crossing of the road and to prepare the children for possible danger in traffic. At the beginning of the school, large banners of the police will point to the start of school and more school trips will be carried out in primary schools.

We also want your children to become confident and safe road users and to be able to look forward to their school start.