Schools in North Rhine-Westphalia starting under scrutiny due to risks posed by parent taxis
Promoting Independent School Travel and Drop-Off Zones in North Rhine-Westphalia
In an effort to improve safety and reduce chaos around schools, the ADAC is advocating for the establishment of parent drop-off zones and encouraging independent school travel in North Rhine-Westphalia. Many municipalities are adopting similar measures, such as drop-off zones and school streets, to create a safer and more controlled environment for children traveling to and from school.
These measures aim to separate the flow of private vehicles from pedestrians and cyclists near schools, thereby lowering the risk of accidents. Parent drop-off zones provide organized areas for cars to stop briefly without blocking traffic, reducing chaotic parking and dangerous curbside congestion. Independent travel—encouraging children to walk, cycle, or use public transport on their own or in groups—increases safety by reducing the number of cars at school entrances and fosters responsibility and physical activity among students.
According to a recent ADAC survey, only 50% of parents in North Rhine-Westphalia consider their children's school journey safe. This concern is reflected in the practice of parent taxis, where many parents bring their children to school due to concerns for safety, time pressure, or convenience. However, this practice often results in chaotic and dangerous situations around schools, with children getting out of cars directly onto the road or crossing between parked vehicles.
Thomas Muther from ADAC emphasizes that promoting independent school travel positively influences the development of children and increases traffic safety. He considers drop-off zones and school streets as steps in the right direction, but ultimately aims for children to manage their school journey independently. In fact, 55% of parents favor school streets, which are closed to cars during peak times.
In addition, studies show that children who walk to school are fitter and more concentrated in class. Drop-off zones, set up a little further from the school, allow parents to safely let their children out of the car. These zones help ease the situation around schools, with children walking the last meters to school when drop-off zones are used.
While the specific North Rhine-Westphalia context is not deeply detailed in the search results, these principles are widely accepted in urban planning and school safety strategies across Germany and internationally. Such approaches align with broader goals to improve urban mobility, reduce environmental impact from cars, and decentralize school-related traffic issues.
Despite concerns about their child's ability to properly assess the school journey or pay attention, about a quarter of parents fear for their child's safety. However, the ADAC encourages children to make the daily school journey independently, promoting social behavior. It is also worth noting that 60% of parents in North Rhine-Westphalia find drop-off zones useful.
As we approach the school year 2025/26, parent taxis remain a recurring issue in North Rhine-Westphalia. The ADAC continues to advocate for these measures to ensure a safer and more controlled environment for children traveling to and from school.
Science can play a significant role in health-and-wellness by promoting the benefits of independent school travel, such as increased physical activity and improved concentration, as shown by studies. In the realm of education-and-self-development, the practice of independent school travel also fosters responsibility and social behavior among students.
