Children in traffic: Why caution and slow driving save lives

Behind every number is a young life. Around 1,300 children are involved in accidents on Swiss roads every year. What strategies can we develop to significantly reduce the number of accidents?

July 31, 2024

• 4 minutes reading time

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How often do children have accidents?

Based on police statistics, it is assumed that 1,300 children are involved in accidents on Swiss roads every year.
In reality, many more accidents happen because many are not reported.
Particular attention is paid to accidents involving seriously injured children.
According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), an average of six children were killed and 168 seriously injured on Swiss roads each year over the last five years.
Children (aged between 0 and 14) who were actively moving in traffic at the time of the accident were on foot in just under two-fifths of cases, on a bicycle in around a third of cases and on a so-called “vehicle-like device” (e.g. scooter) in just under a fifth of cases.

"Around 1,300 children have accidents on Swiss roads every year."

Traffic quiz with competition

How do children move in traffic?

In Switzerland and Western Europe in general, many children between the ages of 6 and 14 are active travelers: typically, around 70 percent of them walk or cycle to school.
Interestingly, children in urban areas are around 40 percent more likely to use public transportation compared to their peers in rural areas.
These mobility habits reflect the diversity and adaptability of young people’s transport behavior.

When do most accidents happen?

The analysis of accidents on the way to and from school shows a clear peak in the morning hours between 7 and 9 am.
Almost a third of all serious accidents occur during these two hours.
A further 45 percent of accidents occur in the three hours of lunchtime from 11 am to 2 pm.
The remaining accidents are spread over the period from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a steady decline.

What can really change drivers' behavior?

A study by Jameel and Evdorides (2021) shows that reducing the average speed by just 5 km/h could reduce the risk of fatal accidents by up to 25 percent.
Increased attention in school zones has the potential to reduce the accident rate by 20 percent.
In addition, stricter enforcement of speed limits could lead to 10-15 percent fewer accidents.
In Switzerland, a BFU study from last year shows that the number of serious accidents in 30 km/h zones decreases by 38 percent on average.
These figures show how important conscious and careful driving is to ensure the safety of children on the road.
They are findings that show: Just a few km/h less has a big impact.
Instructions for action are: Driving with foresight, especially when children are nearby.
Refrain from using hand signals; they create a false sense of security.

"Reducing the average speed by just 5 km/h could reduce the risk of fatal accidents by up to 25 percent."

What good is 1.5 meters distance between car and bike?

A distance of 1.5 meters between cars and bicycles is crucial for road safety.
Studies show that this distance significantly reduces the risk of collisions and dangerous situations.
Studies by the Road Safety Trust and the University of Westminster show that a distance of at least 1.5 meters when overtaking cyclists significantly reduces the frequency of accidents.
Studies by the University of Bath show that overtaking maneuvers with a distance of less than 1.5 meters are particularly dangerous.
An analysis by the UK Department for Transport found that 60-75% of accidents involving cyclists are caused by driver error.
These findings highlight the importance of a safe overtaking distance.
In Germany, the introduction of this regulation in the road traffic regulations led to a measurable reduction in accidents.
The European Transport Safety Council also recommends this minimum distance to give cyclists sufficient space and ensure their safety.
In Switzerland, the 1.5 meters is a recommendation, but is not enshrined in law.

What role do the police play?

Traffic instruction by the police, but also regular traffic checks, play a decisive role in increasing road safety – especially in sensitive areas such as schools and playgrounds.
Studies show that such checks can reduce the accident rate by around 15 percent.
The FHWA in the USA emphasizes that the presence of police officers and the strict enforcement of traffic rules lead to safer driver behavior.
When drivers know that they will be checked more frequently in certain areas, they tend to drive more cautiously and are more likely to obey speed limits.
According to the European ETSC, visible police presence and checks also help parents and children feel safer.

How will the figures develop in the long term?

Over the last ten years, the number of accidents involving children on Swiss roads has fallen by around 20 percent.
This positive development is due to improved safety measures at all levels.
Despite this progress, ensuring road safety for children remains a key challenge.

"In the last ten years, the number of accidents involving children on Swiss roads has fallen by around 20 percent."

Where does Switzerland stand in an international comparison?

In a global comparison, Switzerland has a relatively low rate of road traffic accidents involving children.
According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Switzerland ranks in the bottom third of countries when it comes to the number of road accidents per capita.
Nevertheless, the challenge remains to further improve safety and adapt to new mobility trends.

We humans like to be nice, especially to children.
So the following situation seems completely normal to us: On your way to work early in the morning, you drive past near a school.
Two children are waiting at the pedestrian crossing for you to stop.
As they have right of way, you brake and stop – and wave the two waiting children across the road with a gesture.
The children laugh, wave back and run off.

Completely normal, right? But Raphael Hermann, police officer and head of road safety education at the Fribourg cantonal police, says: “It’s important that the vehicle stops completely”. He explains why traffic education experts advise against hand signals to children: “They convey a false sense of security. Are we completely sure that the rest of the road is safe to cross? That’s why we teach children: only cross the road when the car has come to a complete stop. Once they have internalized this behavior, there is no need for hand signals. Children are learners in every area of life, whether in kindergarten or school or on the way there.

Share this story

Children in traffic: Why caution and slow driving save lives

How often do children have accidents?

Traffic quiz with competition

How do children move in traffic?

When do most accidents happen?

What can really change drivers' behavior?

What good is 1.5 meters distance between car and bike?

What role do the police play?

How will the figures develop in the long term?

Where does Switzerland stand in an international comparison?

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