Getting to school safely: This is how parents practice getting to school correctly with their children!

Getting to school safely: This is how parents practice getting to school correctly with their children!

The new school year is just around the corner: classes will soon begin at over 1,100 primary schools in Hesse. For many children this means making their way to school independently. Experts recommend that parents pay particular attention to safety when choosing their route to school. The fastest way is not always the safest. In fact, longer routes can pose significantly fewer risks. Traffic expert Alexandro Melus from ADAC Hesse-Thuringia unanimously advises practicing the route to school with the children at an early stage.

Practicing the route to school should be focused specifically on important danger points. These include zebra crossings, intersections and traffic lights, which should be discussed in detail. Parents should plan enough time to avoid stress for the children and to provide a feeling of security. The German Traffic Watch in particular emphasizes that practical training on how to get to school is primarily the responsibility of the parents. Kindergarten and school can support this by providing information about school route plans.

Practical tips for getting to school

In order to give children the best possible understanding of the journey to school, experts recommend completing five to ten exercises. The traffic watchdog gives the following tips:

• Hin- und Rückweg üben.
• Kurze Strecken sind nicht immer sicher.
• Alle Gefahrenpunkte ansprechen.
• Das Kind muss wissen, wo es die Straße überqueren darf (Ampeln, Mittelinseln, Zebrastreifen, Schülerlotsen).
• Fahrbahnüberquerung ohne Hilfsmittel muss geübt werden; dabei spielt die Sichtbarkeit der Fahrbahn eine wesentliche Rolle.
• Ein wichtiges Sicherheitskriterium: Kinder dürfen niemals mit einem Fremden mitgehen.
• Gegenseitiger Austausch von Rollen: das Kind erklärt seinen Schulweg.

Experts emphasize the benefits of walking to school. Walking not only strengthens traffic skills, but also promotes children's cognitive development, motor skills and self-confidence. The ADAC strongly advises against driving children to the school gate. Parent taxis impair road safety and significantly increase the risk of accidents because they hinder school buses and provoke dangerous overtaking and turning maneuvers.

The risks of driving to school

A large number of cars in front of schools leads to traffic chaos, which particularly endangers children on foot. Children also lose the opportunity to develop risk awareness. If the car still has to be used, it is recommended that the child walks at least part of the way. School drop-off zones or parent stops can be usefully integrated into the planning.

For younger children, it is also important to ensure that the car is properly secured. Children up to 12 years old and shorter than 150 cm need a child seat with a tested seal. In addition, all occupants are required to wear seat belts in all seats. Children should always sit on the side of the sidewalk when getting in and out of the vehicle.

In order to increase the safety of children and prepare them as best as possible for the challenges of road traffic, comprehensive preparation by parents is essential. Parents should actively participate in this process and take responsibility for their child's safety.

For more detailed information you can read the articles from South Germans and ADAC Foundation consult.