As a cooperation partner in all-day schools, she is in great demand. Either Othman, press spokesman of the Federal Association, explains in an interview how good traffic and mobility education should look like.
Online-Redaction: Mr. Othman, which tasks do the German Traffic Watched take over?
Either Othman: Since its founding in 1924, Deutsche has set itself the goal of making mobility on German roads safer and reducing the number of accident victims. Our programs are aimed at all age groups from kindergartens to seniors. One area is traffic education, where children should learn basic rules of behavior. The association also understands "traffic education" as "mobility education" and, most importantly, the promotion of physical activity. We try to promote the cognitive and motor skills of the road users as early as possible so that they can move safely in traffic.
One of the most important elements of road safety work at school is the 3rd or 4th grade cycling training. Another area is traffic education, which informs people about which rules apply and how they can adapt their behavior on the road to avoid accidents and protect lives. A third area is driving safety training for bicycles, cars, motorbikes and trucks. The ideal we strive for is accident-free traffic, the "Vision Zero". Realistically, the path is the goal.
Online Editorial: How is your association organized?
Othman: There are 14 employees working here in Berlin at the Federal Office. We are active nationwide with 16 regional associations and over 600 districts, district and local traffic guards. The work there is mainly done by around 60,000 volunteers. In addition to our own projects and actions, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure supports various target group programs, which are mainly implemented by our local associations.
Online editors: The new school year has begun, a sensitive time when many first graders are on the way. How does the Deutsche help to provide more security here?
Othman: On the one hand it's about visibility. We make children and parents aware that they wear bright clothing, safety vests and school bags with reflective fabrics. Since 2003, our Medium & Service GmbH has been organizing the uniform nationwide campaign for the beginning of school under the motto "Stop it! - School has started ". Then, reflective baseball caps which made of reflective materials are distributed to school beginners. In addition, straps and school posters affixed to the public eye are intended to sensitize motorists that they drive particularly slowly, with foresight and with respect for the young schoolchildren. Our stickers for cars, busses and trains and leaflets with information for parents also announce this. Added to this are countless initiatives and brochures on site and the work of school and bus drivers.
It is important to us that the children not only learn traffic rules and recognize traffic signs, but also train their attentiveness, movement and coordination skills. That means abstracting situations and estimating danger. This begins with the way to school, which the parents have to practice intensively with the children at the beginning. To do this, they take a suitable route together and discuss processes and danger points with their children. Not the fastest way to school is the right one, but the safest. Some schools support this with school itineraries. On this topic, we and many traffic guard on site information about the right school-leaving training.
There are also youth traffic schools operated by traffic guards, in which pupils can practice their bicycles in a sheltered area. Here they also train coordination and balance, concentration and the assessment of traffic situations.
Online editors: Not infrequently, the parents themselves endanger the children by the fetch and bring chaos in front of the school building...
Othman: The traffic guards work to ensure that the parents do not drive their children to school, but let the students go their own way if this is possible without danger. This gives them important learning experience for independent traffic participation and strengthens their motor skills. We cannot ban anything, but we want to raise awareness and point out alternatives to the parent taxi. Some traffic guards look at where to set up pick-up and drop-off zones near the school that does not pose a threat to the students.
