«There's only one thing to do: practise!»

Ms Degener, after the summer holidays, schoolchildren are back on the road. What makes a safe journey to school?

This depends on several factors. Does the child walk on the pavement, a paved footpath or a beaten track? Does it cross roads, are there traffic lights or central islands? Children are not able to correctly assess road traffic hazards until they are around nine years old.

Why not?

They are more fascinated by lorries, ambulances with flashing blue lights or tractors than by danger. Children are easily distracted due to their development. If the school friend on the other side of the road waves, she has their full attention. Our traffic instructors notice time and again that many of them eagerly reel off the sequence according to the instructions - «wait, wait, wait, run» - but on closer inspection it turns out that their eyes are wandering.

What can parents do to ensure their safety?

There is only one thing to do: practise, practise, practise. Children should be accompanied by their carers on the roads even before they start kindergarten. It is important to walk as often as possible instead of putting your children in the car. And then discuss together where and how you want to cross roads: What does the child see? How long does the car have until the pedestrian crossing? What is his assessment: wait or walk?

Internalising safety rules takes years of practice - and guidance. However, accompanying a child does not mean simply guiding them through traffic. The «work», the assessment of the situation, must be done by the child itself. Adults are observers and only intervene when danger needs to be averted.