Protection paths for children: Traffic club demands more security in road traffic

Protection paths for children: Traffic club demands more security in road traffic

In an alarming unveiling, the Austria (VCÖ) traffic club (VCÖ) indicates the dangerous situation of children in road traffic. Last year almost 30 percent of the injured children were pedestrians who were hit when crossing protection paths.

The protection path, often overlooked and misunderstood, is a central aspect of traffic safety. According to the latest statistics from Statistics Austria, 192 children were injured last year, with 25 of them suffered serious injuries. This number illustrates the urgency of better protecting children and increasing attention to security measures.

invisible dangers of traffic

A remarkable fact is that the “invisible protection route” has been anchored in the road traffic regulations for 30 years now. But despite this long story, the concept remains unknown to many road users or is not sufficiently respected. Children are particularly at risk because the principle of trust that applies to adults is not applicable to them. This means that drivers cannot build on the right behavior of children in road traffic.

The VCÖ has clear messages: drivers have to reduce their speed and be ready to slow down in road traffic, especially when approaching pedestrians who watch on protection paths. "The driver of a vehicle has to behave towards people for whom the principle of trust does not apply, in particular by reducing driving speed and willing to brake it in such a way that a risk is excluded," explains the VCÖ.

improvements for security

In order to increase security when crossing roads, the VCÖ demands extensive measures, including an expansion of the holding and parking ban from protection routes. This would help to avoid disabilities and increase security for pedestrians, especially for children. These danger spots caused by parked cars and other obstacles can also be reported via the "VCÖ school path check" and viewed on an interactive map.

The worrying statistics and the current demands of the VCÖ make it clear that there is an urgent need for action to ensure the safety of our children in road traffic. Your feedback is important to effectively identify dangerous bodies and take measures that improve the safety of all road users.