Bonn, 18.8.2024
School is about to start again in most federal states. Many parents are asking themselves how their children can get to school safely. There are numerous tips from various experts on how best to behave, dress etc. on the way to school. But how do you find the safest route?
A digital school route planner is now available online. This helps to find the safest possible route to school, both on foot and by bike. Based on the suggested route and their own assessments, parents should then practice the planned route with their children and explain possible dangers in order to raise awareness of risks.
The school route planner is now available at https://www.schulwege.de/. The Germany-wide basic version already contains hazard information taken from a digital road safety map. Using an EU-awarded methodology, data from various sources such as accident statistics, user reports, vehicle data, etc. are regularly compiled and evaluated. As a result and basis for the routing, conspicuous road sections are displayed on the map using a so-called danger score from yellow to red. The routes displayed can also be enriched with further hazard reports from parents, so that the data is continuously improved and updated.
The first local authorities are also already using the online portal, where they can make their own entries and, for example, enter traffic assistance points. They can enter their own entries there and, for example, enter traffic helper points, mark safe routes, note danger spots and more.
Basic tips for safe routes to school
The schulwege.de platform has also published a guide that offers parents and children tips on how to get to school as safely as possible. At https://www.schulwege.de/service/rat geber-sicher-zur-schule you will find practical advice for planning the journey to school early and effectively. Parents are encouraged to go on exploratory trips with their children to identify potential danger spots and understand the importance of safe crossing options. Of course, they can use the digital school route planner in advance for support.
In addition to the individual safety tips, schulwege.de recommends joint school travel initiatives and encourages parents to join forces to set up local road safety projects (such as the Pedibus) to improve the safety of all children on the way to school.
About the initiative for safe roads
The Safe Roads Initiative has been campaigning for Vision Zero (no traffic accidents resulting in death or serious injury) since 2014. The aim is to
significantly increase road safety in order to sustainably protect vulnerable road users in particular, raise awareness of road safety and promote the traffic turnaround. To this end, it is developing innovative digital tools for use on the web and in apps. Using specially developed platforms, data can be collected, analyzed and made usable in a meaningful way.
The schulwege.de platform was also launched in this context. The initiative for safe roads would like to recommend it to parents, teachers and local authorities as a further contribution to improving road safety for children.
Press contact:
Jörn Wolter
Initiative für sichere Straßen GmbH
Matthias-Grünewald-Str.
1-3
53175 Bonn
Phone: 0228-76 38 69 00
E-mail: presse@sichere-strassen.org