94 km/h on the way to school: Cottbus takes action against speeders!

94 km/h on the way to school: Cottbus takes action against speeders!

In Cottbus/Chóśebuz, a frightening incident is causing people to sit up and take notice: On September 18, 2025, a vehicle driver was caught drastically exceeding the speed of 94 km/h on a school route for the Regine Hildebrandt Elementary School. Instead of the permitted 50 km/h, he now faces a fine of 400 euros, two points in Flensburg and a one-month driving ban. Not only is this a personal matter for the driver, but it also sheds light on the issue of road safety in sensitive areas around schools.

To avoid such dangerous situations, an impressive 137 hours were dedicated to monitoring moving traffic in the first two weeks of the new school year. The city administration recorded the speeds of a total of 24,323 vehicles, 900 of which were traveling too fast. These measures, including speed controls, mobile dialogue displays and increased law enforcement presence, aim to ensure the safety of school children. Manuel Helbig, head of the order and security department, emphasizes how important consideration and caution are in primary schools.

Focus on education and prevention

Road safety is not just the city's responsibility - the nationwide “Vision Zero” initiative also aims to prevent every traffic accident. The statutory accident insurance uses the “Safe School” platform to ensure that students learn the relevant traffic rules and develop movement, environmental and social experiences. Mobility education and traffic education are key topics here that are necessary for safe coexistence.

The Conference of Ministers of Education recommends integrating these aspects as an overarching educational task. It is encouraging to see that road safety education in schools is supported by a variety of media offerings that help teachers teach students about safe road behavior. [Safe School] is a valuable source of information.

Parental responsibility

The behavior of parents in the school environment plays a crucial role. In the current inspections, more emphasis was placed on correct parking and safe dropping off and picking up of children. Nine paid warnings were issued, particularly for stopping in no-parking areas or on sidewalks. Fortunately, most parents showed insight and gratefully accepted the advice. More and more people are using alternative parking options at a certain distance from school and accompanying their children on foot, which not only increases safety but also raises awareness of traffic education.

The topic remains current and poses challenges for both those responsible and parents. The basis for a safe school environment lies in the active participation of everyone involved, be it at school, in traffic or in the family environment. The Ministry of Education and various organizations work hand in hand to enable children to interact safely on traffic. [DGUV]