Im­port­ant mes­sage to par­ents at the be­gin­ning of the school year

Schools are now back in session, and thousands of children and teenagers are making their way to school every morning. At the same time, morning traffic gets heavier, parents are sometimes in a rush, and school grounds fill up with cars and children. At this time of year, it is important that we adults stay alert in traffic and go over some key points with our children.

The reason we do this is that many children are injured in traffic every year — last year, 112 children under the age of 14 were injured in traffic. Of those, one child died, 14 were seriously injured, and 97 suffered minor injuries. Of those involved, 46 were in a passenger car, 41 were on a bicycle or e-bike, 14 were on foot, 1 was on a bus, and 10 were involved in other ways.

To make life easier for parents, we have put together an addition to the back-to-school checklist that comes with the start of a new school year — backpack, pencil case, hat, mittens — and a few safety essentials before heading off to school.

• Practice the safe route before your child sets off alone
  The first few days matter. Parents should walk or cycle the route with their child during the first few days and discuss which is the safest way to school. Where is the best place to cross the street? Where are the crosswalks, traffic lights, or underpasses? Where is traffic heavy, speed high, or lighting poor? It is not enough to say "be careful." You need to show your child what that actually means.

• Helmet, lights, and the right mode of transport
  Bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters can be a great way to get around, but only if the equipment, speed, and conditions are appropriate. Parents should regularly check helmets, brakes, lights, and reflectors, and discuss where cycling is allowed and where the bike must be walked — for example, across pedestrian crossings. According to traffic laws, children must be at least 13 years old before using an electric scooter, and rental services such as Hopp set the minimum age at 18.

• Take the headphones out of traffic
  Music, phones, and messages reduce attention. On the way to school, children need to be able to listen for traffic, bicycles, other children, and instructions. One simple rule could be that phones and headphones go into the bag when crossing streets or moving through busy areas.

• Make children visible before darkness sets in
  It is a good idea to put reflective stickers on all clothing when school starts, because before we know it, mornings will be dark. It is worth adding reflectors to school bags, jackets, bikes, and even shoes. The more reflective gear children have, the more likely a driver is to see them in the dark — so there is no need to hold back on the reflectors. For teenagers who care about fashion trends, reflective stickers are available that can be cut into all kinds of shapes and stuck onto clothing and school bags while still keeping things cool.

• Go over the rules with your children
  Children often learn quickly, so it is a good idea to test their knowledge once you have gone over the main traffic rules with them. Where is the safest place to cross? What do you do if a car does not stop? When should you walk your bike? Where are you allowed to ride a scooter? And of course, remind them to always wear their helmet.

A few good tips for us adults

• Remind ourselves about the 30 km/h zones
  Parents are not only role models for their own children. They are also drivers in other children's neighbourhoods. Lower speed gives drivers more time to react and reduces the likelihood of serious injury if an accident occurs. Near schools, speed should be set with the understanding that many young children are on the move — not based on how late we are running.

• Avoid reversing on school grounds
  At many school grounds, cars, children on foot, bicycles, and electric scooters all mix together. Where possible, drivers should always choose a safe spot to drop children off, use a loop route, and avoid reversing. Children should always exit the car on the pavement side.

• Electric cars are very quiet, so children often cannot hear them approaching.
  Children learn in traffic education to look both ways and listen for traffic. Electric cars and other quiet vehicles can approach without the child hearing much, so looking is always essential too.

• The start of school is a shared safety project
  It is natural for families to think about school bags, packed lunches, timetables, and after-school activities at the start of the school year. But the safe route to school should be just as natural a part of the preparation. The most powerful messages are simple: slow down, practise the route, and make children visible. That way, the start of school becomes not only a new beginning in learning, but also a good beginning in safety.