Police appeal: Maximum safety for children when they start school!

Police appeal: Maximum safety for children when they start school!

With the start of the new school year on August 10, 2025, the police are placing particular focus on the safety of the smallest road users in Cologne. First-graders are often inexperienced in road traffic and have difficulty assessing speeds and sources of danger. The police are therefore urgently appealing to all drivers to drive particularly carefully in the areas around schools, kindergartens and at bus stops, as meetingpoint-jl.de reports.

The police have announced that they will carry out increased traffic controls in the first few weeks after school starts. The focus here is on speed checks, compliance with seat belt requirements and the proper securing of children in the vehicle. Parents are also encouraged to respect the no-parking rules in front of schools and to avoid dangerous turning maneuvers in front of school gates to ensure the safety of the children.

Shared responsibility in road traffic

Traffic education plays a central role in helping children find their way around traffic. In Bavaria, for example, primary school students learn to get to school independently - be it by bus, bike, scooter or on foot. This content is integrated into CurriculumPlus for all four grades. It is important that students learn to deal with the challenges and dangers of traffic, according to km.bayern.de.

To support this, schools, police and traffic police work closely together. In the first two grades, the focus is on theoretical content such as traffic signs and rules, while in the higher grades, practical exercises take place at a traffic training area. Volunteer helpers on the way to school also play an important role, especially at critical points such as dangerous intersections.

The way to school as a joint project

Parents have an essential role in their children's traffic education. By practicing going to school together, they not only promote their children's independence, but also strengthen their confidence in mastering the journey alone. This collaboration is crucial for children's safety, as many drivers are distracted, which increases risks on the road.

Special activities, such as the making of posters by third grade students in Oberhausen, show how committed the students are to their learning process. They teach younger classmates the traffic rules and thus ensure better awareness throughout the school community. Traffic education that improves student safety is therefore a common concern for schools, parents and external partners.

For a successful start to the new school year, the police wish all students in Cologne a lot of fun and a safe time on the way to school!