Essen and Graz expand school street zones to improve student safety

Cities in Germany and Austria are expanding the use of ‘school streets’—zones where vehicle traffic is restricted during specific hours to improve student safety and encourage active mobility.

In Essen, Germany, the city is testing a new school street at Grundschule Nordviertel. Peterstraße and Gertrudisstraße will be closed to car traffic on weekdays from 7:30 to 8:30 and 11:30 to 14:00. The trial is expected to last approximately one year, with an evaluation planned after the initial months. To assist parents, three designated drop-off points have been established on Kleine Stoppenberger Straße and Altenessener Straße.

In Graz, Austria, two new school streets are being implemented at VS St. Peter and VS Graz Mariagrün. These measures aim to reduce congestion and the risk of accidents during morning drop-off times. Graz now has a total of ten school streets following the gradual expansion of the concept since September 2023. The initiative follows concerns regarding school route safety, noting that Statistics Austria recorded 537 school route accidents in 2025, resulting in 577 injuries.