Parents’ cars pose the biggest threat to children’s school routes in Germany

Safety on Hessian School Routes - Parents’ cars pose the biggest threat to children’s school routes in Germany

Road safety for children travelling to school remains a pressing issue in Germany. By the end of October, 4,764 young people in Hesse alone had been involved in accidents on their way to daycare, school, or university—with one fatality. Experts now argue that the biggest threat comes not from infrastructure flaws, but from parents driving cars near schools.

Teachers across Germany have repeatedly flagged cars and parental behaviour as the main dangers on school routes. Ansgar Hegerfeld of the German Cycling Association (ADFC) Hesse supports this view, stating that parents behind the wheel pose the greatest risk to children. Infrastructure problems and student misconduct follow as secondary concerns.

The push for safer school routes includes new traffic restrictions, infrastructure upgrades, and public awareness campaigns. With thousands of accidents already recorded this year, authorities are focusing on reducing risks caused by vehicles—especially those driven by parents. The goal is to ensure children can travel to school without facing unnecessary dangers.

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