School commencement in North Rhine-Westphalia under scrutiny due to parental taxi services
In the city of Hamm, various initiatives are underway to enhance school safety and promote sustainable mobility. One of the key concerns among parents is the chaotic and potentially dangerous situations around schools due to the high volume of cars during the school run.
According to a survey by ADAC, 60% of parents in North Rhine-Westphalia support the establishment of drop-off zones for parents, set a little further away from schools. ADAC also advocates for children completing their daily school journey independently, as studies show that walking to school can make children fitter, more concentrated in class, and promote social behavior.
Thomas Muether from ADAC explains that children in primary school age often cannot properly assess traffic dangers when getting out of cars or crossing roads between parked vehicles. He adds that many parents know they are exacerbating the situation around schools with the school run, but they don't change anything about it.
To address these issues, ADAC is advocating for the implementation of parent drop-off zones. These zones, if established, could significantly ease the situation around schools. About a quarter of parents who use the school run critically view their behavior, but continue to do so due to reasons such as time pressure, bad weather, or convenience.
In addition to the proposed drop-off zones, ADAC also supports school streets, which are closed to cars during peak times. In North Rhine-Westphalia, 55% of parents favor this initiative.
The city of Hamm itself is taking steps to improve the quality of life. Plans are underway to plant 1000 trees, and the Hamm police are offering pedelec training. The city is also experiencing delays in the planning of the South Ring.
On a broader scale, the region of North Rhine-Westphalia is introducing new battery trains, such as on the RE 47 line, to transform regional mobility. This could encourage a reduction in car usage for daily commutes, potentially including school runs, by offering cleaner and more efficient travel options.
Educational campaigns about traffic safety and the benefits of walking or cycling to school could also be part of broader regional initiatives to reduce car usage and improve safety around schools. However, for specific initiatives in North Rhine-Westphalia focused on school safety and reducing car usage for school runs, local government or education department announcements would provide the most accurate information.
The news article is authored by Joachim Schultheis.
Science could play a significant role in the development of education-and-self-development initiatives aimed at reducing unsafe conditions and promoting sustainable mobility around schools. For instance, researchers might study the impact of independent school travel on children's health-and-wellness and cognitive development.
Furthermore, collaborations between schools, local governments, and self-development organizations could lead to the creation of programs focusing on science education that emphasizes environment, safety, and sustainable mobility, thereby encouraging children to make informed choices regarding their daily commutes.
