Ascending journey towards the school - School leadership training is recommended by Tüv organization.
As Thuringia's schoolchildren prepare to return to classrooms after their summer holidays on August 11, 2025, it's essential to focus on road safety, particularly school route accidents.
During the school year of 2024, there were 45 school route accidents in Thuringia, resulting in 40 injured students aged six to 18. This number is a decrease from the 56 accidents recorded in 2020, indicating a positive trend, according to accident statistics.
However, crossing streets and intersections can still pose challenges, especially for new students. To mitigate these risks, TUV Thuringia advises parents of first-graders to train the school route with their children. They also recommend that children use pedestrian crossings or traffic lights when crossing streets.
Children who ride their bikes to school in Thuringia should know the route well, be able to handle their bike safely, and wear a helmet.
Common causes of school route accidents include increased traffic congestion near schools, reduced children's attention while crossing streets, poor visibility conditions, lack of proper pedestrian infrastructure, and inexperienced young drivers or distracted drivers in school zones.
To prevent such accidents, children should be taught road safety rules, such as looking both ways before crossing and using pedestrian crosswalks. Parents can encourage walking or biking in groups and accompany younger children. The use of reflective clothing or accessories to improve visibility, especially during darker hours, is also advisable.
Local authorities should ensure well-maintained sidewalks, clear signage, and safe crossing guards near schools. Schools and communities may run road safety campaigns and organize “walking buses” to reduce car congestion.
Detailed and current accident statistics specifically for school routes in Thuringia are not readily available. However, the risk tends to increase at the start of the school year due to heavier traffic and children adapting back to routines.
Monitoring local traffic reports and school announcements in Thuringia around the school start date (August 11, 2025) may provide more precise accident data and safety recommendations.
Parents are encouraged to discuss potential dangers with their children, such as crossing streets, and to stay vigilant during this crucial period. The new school year in Thuringia begins on Monday, August 11th.
- To ensure the safety of students in Thuringia's community, it's crucial for parents to educate their first-graders about the school route and reinforce the importance of following road safety rules, such as using pedestrian crossings and wearing helmets when cycling.
- In addition to personal education and self-development, the health-and-wellness of Thuringia's students can be improved through promoting science-backed road safety practices, such as walking or biking in groups, wearing reflective clothing, and staying vigilant during the peak traffic periods at the beginning of the school year.
