10-year-old cyclist injured in accident with car in Sonneberg

10-year-old cyclist injured in accident with car in Sonneberg

On Friday morning, August 24th, 2025, an accident occurred in Sonneberg between a 10-year-old cyclist and a car. The incident happened at 7:59 a.m. when the young cyclist was driving into the city on the right-hand sidewalk of Oberlinder Straße. While crossing the road, at the level of the railway overpass, she collided with one of the two oncoming children, which led to her falling onto the road.

Fortunately, the student was wearing a helmet and only sustained minor injuries. However, the car was damaged. The other two children who came into contact with her continued on their way to school and have not yet been identified. The Sonneberg police station is urgently looking for witnesses who can provide information about these children. Information can be reported to 03675/875-0.

Causes of accidents in children

The incident sheds light on the most common causes of accidents on the road, especially among children who are bicyclists. According to an analysis by the Traffic Watch Many accidents can be traced back to a traffic environment that is not geared towards the needs of children. Improper road use leads to 18.3% of accidents, followed by errors when turning or entering traffic at 17.1%. In addition, children often ignore right-of-way regulations, which plays a role in 10.2% of cases.

Accident statistics show that children under 15 are at increased risk; boys are particularly affected, as they often ride without helmets and tend to ride more aggressively than girls. The figures confirm that 56.8% of children involved in accidents were cycling in 2020. A majority of these accidents occur close to their homes, especially between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Safety situation for children in road traffic

Fortunately, the number of children injured in traffic accidents is declining Federal Highway Research Institute reported. The Child Accident Atlas documents improvements in road safety for children in recent decades. However, some regional differences show that high accident rates remain in dense residential areas, particularly for cyclists. The data is based on a comprehensive analysis of accidents up to 14 years old and sheds light on the accident rate and the traffic accident situation.

These developments illustrate how important preventive measures are to further increase the safety of the youngest road users. The traffic watchdog recommends, among other things, securing school routes for primary school students and cycling training for the 10 to 14 year old age group. Addressing parents to promote independent road participation is also seen as a key to better road safety for children.