FROM HOME TO SCHOOL . FOR ALL SAFETY; CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF TRAFFIC SAFETY

In the Netherlands about two and a half million children go to school each day as pedestrians, as cyclists or as moped riders. This causes many parents much anxiety each day. It is important to remember that these children are forced by society to go to school and society has therefore the responsibility to make the journey to school safe. The school also feels responsible because parents ask for a safe journey to school. The place where the school is located, the time of the hours in school, the possibilities for remaining at school during the midday interval all influence the safety of the children. Education should be connected with the experience of the children. Traffic education could be concentrated around the route to school which is well known to the children. The concentration of road users with special problems is nowhere bigger than in schools. Novice pedestrians, cyclists and moped riders are the main risk groups. Teaching could be started on the way to and from school, which is the childrens' main environment, even outside the regular school hours. Traffic education in school should be undertaken with the parents help. Combined teacher -parent viligence to ensure a safe journey to school can be a valuable contribution. (TRRL)