School start triggers increased traffic safety measures in Switzerland and Germany

As summer holidays conclude, authorities in Switzerland and Germany are issuing warnings to motorists regarding increased pedestrian activity during the return to school.

In Switzerland, the Jura Cantonal Police are intensifying patrols and supporting the Touring Club Switzerland’s ‘Luege, brämse, halte’ (Look, brake, stop) campaign to improve safety for students. In the city of Zurich, over 36,000 children and adolescents are returning to classrooms, including the opening of the new Krähenbühl secondary school.

In Germany, officials in Eppstein have deployed banners to alert drivers to the school start. Safety initiatives are emphasizing that the safest route is often not the shortest, particularly during peak morning and midday hours. Data from the HUK-COBURG insurance company and the ‘Initiative for Safe Roads’ are being used to identify high-risk areas to help parents plan safer commutes for their children.