Safe routes to school are a priority for the traffic police every day – but especially at the start of school. That’s why around 500 police officers will be deployed to secure school routes in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland at the start of school. They are supported by older students, parents, grandparents and community service members. School route plans have been drawn up for the majority of primary schools.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner: “When it comes to road traffic, we adults are responsible for ensuring that our children get to school and back home safely. The police will ensure that all road users show special consideration for our children on the way to school.” Karner appeals to people to pay attention to children, especially near schools, and to be prepared to brake.
“As Minister of the Interior, I, together with more than 32,000 police officers, have to ensure security in this country. This also includes road safety, to which my colleagues contribute with their consistent and often dangerous deployment on Austria’s roads,” says Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. “In view of the impending start of school in Eastern Austria in the federal states of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, I would like to point out the importance of safety on the way to school and appeal to all drivers to pay particular attention to children near school and to be prepared to brake. The police will be with you at the start of school Visible presence and controls will be increasingly used to further increase safety on school routes,” says Karner.
Police actions
As part of securing the route to school, the police rely on proven measures: monitoring the route to school at critical junctions, speed checks in the vicinity of schools and kindergartens, monitoring the correct transport of children and the requirement to wear seat belts as well as the correct behavior in the area of school and protective routes.
In addition to traffic control, the Federal Police carries out prevention, awareness-raising and education as part of school traffic education. Every year around 300,000 children are reached throughout Austria. Children learn to recognize and avoid dangers in traffic. For example, they learn that smartphones and headphones can impair their attention in traffic and pose a great danger.
Accidents on the way to school
494 children were injured in traffic accidents on the way to school in 2023 (2022: 434). Last year, two children (11, 13) lost their lives in traffic accidents on the way to school (2021 and 2022: 1; 2017, 2018 and 2020: 0; 2019: 4).
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