As the new school year begins, more children return to the streets. A CDV and BESIP analysis highlights the riskiest periods and key rules for safer journeys to school.
The beginning of the school year also means that more children return to the streets. September therefore places increased demands on the attention of children, parents and drivers alike. An analysis by the Road Safety Department (BESIP) of the Czech Ministry of Transport and the Transport Research Centre (CDV) shows that the riskiest times for child pedestrians are particularly the morning peak between 7 and 8 a.m. and the afternoon peak between 3 and 4 p.m.
Over the past ten years, 4,570 road crashes involving children under the age of 14 were recorded in September. Seven children were killed, 100 suffered serious injuries and another 1,966 sustained minor injuries. Almost half of the injuries involved the most vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists.
Road safety is not only a matter of children's behaviour. Drivers should slow down, pay increased attention to their surroundings and be prepared for unexpected behaviour by children, particularly around schools. Special attention should also be paid to pedestrian crossings and vehicles leaving car parks and garages.
Preparing children for independent travel is another important part of prevention. BESIP recommends that parents walk the route to school with their children before the school year begins, identify potential risks and, for younger children, accompany them during the first days of school. Children should stay focused on traffic, limit the use of mobile phones and headphones and make sure they are clearly visible to other road users.
BESIP has therefore prepared the Ten Rules for a Safe Journey to School, using illustrated situations to help children understand the basic principles of safe behaviour in road traffic.
Read the full press release and the Ten Rules for a Safe Journey to School on the Ministry of Transport website.