The new school year is in the starting blocks. This marks the beginning of a whole new phase of life for many first graders in the district of Leer and in the city of Emden this week with a series of new challenges – on the way to school. So that the little ones on the way to school are not overwhelmed, they need a lot of support especially in the early days. The traffic safety advisors of the police inspection Leer / Emden, Garret Hendricks (district of Leer) and Holder Gartner (city of Emden), appeal to parents and road users to pay attention to some tips to provide the little ones as safe as possible on the way to school.
Tips for the safe way to school:
- Avoid school stress: Plan enough time in the morning. Hustle and time pressure lead to carelessness. The safe way to school starts with a good breakfast.
- Planning the best routes: Plan and practice the safest way for you and your child together with your child. The shortest way is not always the best. Take a little detour in order to arrive safely at the destination.
- Wear bright and high visibility clothing: Equip your child with a safety vest, reflective satchel, reflective jacket or reflective tapes. The motto is: safety through visibility!
- Pupil transport by car: Walk and practice the way to school with your children on foot. This is how the child learns to actively and safely participate in road traffic. The daily “parental taxi” with the car carries danger. Many dangerous situations at the schools are caused by the turning, the reversing and the getting in and out of the children.
- By bike to school: We recommend that the children go to school only after the theoretical and practical cycling training. This usually takes place in the 4th class. At this age, (about 10 years) of the physical development and the responsiveness are sufficiently well developed.
- By bus to school: Children should never cross the road in front of or behind the stopping bus, but wait until the bus continues and visibility is clear. When getting out, children should pay attention to passing cyclists as well as passing pedestrians and should not jostle when boarding.
- No distraction by mobile phones / smart phones: The accessibility of children is important for many parents. Nevertheless, the cell phone / smart phone should be safely stowed away in the jacket pocket or bag on the way to school, so that the children can focus on the traffic.
- Looking ahead and ready to brake: For motorists, special attention will be paid in the coming weeks. Foresighted driving and a constant readiness to brake are demanded of them in particular in the vicinity of schools, at stops as well as crossing points (for example traffic lights, pedestrian crossings).
In 2017, it came under the jurisdiction of the police inspection Leer / Emden to 18 school road accidents. 14 people suffered light injuries and two injuries. School-related accidents are recorded on the way to school with the participation of children until their 14th birthday. Compliance with traffic regulations on school routes will be a particular focus of police officers in the coming days, so that road users will have to expect more controls in this context.