School enrollment is approaching: This is how we secure routes to school for first graders!

School enrollment is approaching: This is how we secure routes to school for first graders!

In Bremen-Nord, numerous first graders will be coming to school for the first time next week. The time has come on August 16th, and not only does a new phase of life begin for the young students, but also a challenge: the journey to school. The Bremen police are at your side when it comes to road safety. Weser courier reports that Stefanie Arndt, a police expert, is part of the “But Sure” alliance. This project supports teachers and parents in making routes to school safer and increasing children's road safety.

With a view to the upcoming school year, school route banners are already being hung in the north of Bremen to draw attention to the upcoming school enrolment. Verena Nölle, head of mobility and traffic education at the Bremen State Traffic Police, has made a name for herself for over 20 years. She founded the “School Express” to motivate children to walk to school in groups. This initiative not only helps to promote children's independence, but also to increase their visibility on the road.

Safe routes to school for the little ones

The importance of safe routes to school is shown by the fact that around 50% of accidents on the way to school occur on the road. According to information from the DGUV, there are over 100,000 accidents on the way to educational institutions every year. Children are particularly affected because they are often distracted and have to learn new ways. DGUV points out that bicycle accidents are particularly common among younger road users and also represent the most important forms of road participation.

Parents are required to teach their children the necessary traffic rules. The shared route to school plays a crucial role. Even at kindergarten age, children need support to master the first steps towards independence. The School Express recommends accompanying the children to the school gate in the first two weeks in order to gradually build up confidence in their own abilities. As soon as the children are more confident in dealing with road traffic, they can cover the last few meters on their own.

Mobility education and traffic education

In order to further increase road safety, traffic education is of great importance. Safe school reports that teaching mobility skills is essential for safe participation in traffic. Children should learn to recognize and understand dangers such as “lack of visibility” and the “blind spot”. Promoting environmentally friendly mobility and strengthening personal responsibility are also among the goals of modern mobility education.

The responsibility lies primarily with the parents. They are not only role models, but can also make a decisive contribution to the safety of their children through their own behavior on the road. They should also make sure that their children are not traveling too fast. Riding a scooter and bicycle can only be learned later, once the children have gained enough experience.

Overall, the coming school years will be exciting and challenging for Bremen's first graders. With the support of initiatives such as the school express and the commitment of the police, the foundation is being laid for safe and self-confident participation in road traffic. It remains to be hoped that everyone involved takes the responsibility for the safety of the children seriously so that they can begin the new phase of their lives with joy and a smile.