Not a school year goes by without a child being injured on the way to school. Increased caution applies to drivers of cars, mopeds and trucks. For parents, however, it means: Now practice going to school with the little ones.
A look at the past year shows how important this is. According to Statistics Austria, there were 365 accidents involving school children on the way to the educational institution. In Tyrol, 32 children had an accident on their way to school. The experts at Arbö have eleven tips in store.
- The top motto is: map out the safest route together with the child, i.e. the one with the fewest crossings. Of course, this also means that sometimes the safest route is not the shortest.
- Work with posterity to identify sources of danger, such as turning at traffic lights. “Even if the traffic light is green, you have to make sure that the street can be crossed really safely.”
Pay attention to visibility with safety vests and the like
- Explain to the child why certain situations are dangerous and tackle the misbehavior of other road users and explain what the consequences could be. But also important: do not be frightened and do not overwhelm the child.
- Praise and reinforcement help the child learn faster. Getting impatient, making threats and berating only makes them restless.
- Ensure good visibility with high-visibility vests for children, reflective press studs and labels.
- Practice in “real time”: the traffic volume during learning should be comparable to what the child will actually experience.
“The child should explain what it does on the way to school and why”
- If the child already feels safe on the way, it can be left in charge – “it should explain what it is doing on the way to school and why”, the experts advise the parents.
- Give time: Send the child to school on time in the morning. In the afternoon there should be no fixed times when the child has to be home. It is better if the child needs more time, but also arrives safely.
- Distractions like smartphones and music are a “no go” on the way to school!
- Walk to school often during the school year: The route may have changed due to construction sites.
Also set an example of the right behavior in everyday life
- Show the children how to behave correctly in traffic not only on their way to school, but also in everyday life. This applies in particular to crosswalks, traffic lights, zebra crossings and slip roads. But also on the sidewalk: it is safer to walk on the inside of the sidewalk, which increases the distance to the vehicle.
By the way: According to traffic psychologist Patricia Prunner from Arbö, “You don’t learn the way to school in one day, but it takes about six to ten repetitions before all dangerous situations are recognized as such”. Therefore: practice, practice, practice and more practice!
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
