Safe on the road: Why driving slowly can save lives

When was the last time you went to driving school? Do you still know all the rules and tips - especially when children are on the way to school? Driving instructor Sébastien Tombez and learner driver Olivia give an insight into a typical driving lesson in the video.

July 11, 2024

• 3 minutes reading time

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Have you been paying attention?

Many learners encounter each other on Swiss roads every day.
At the wheel, for example: 70,000 people apply for a category B learner’s license in Switzerland every year. Most of them start driving lessons straight away, and 50,000 to 60,000 people pass their driving test every year.

But it’s not just budding drivers who are on the roads – there are also children who have yet to learn how to behave safely.
Whether they are on bikes or on foot, they are particularly at risk.
“Children are easily distracted – it is the responsibility of drivers to take this into account,” says Dagmar Rösler, primary school teacher and President of the Swiss Teachers’ Association (interview below).

"Children are easily distracted - it is the responsibility of drivers to take this into account."

Dagmar Rösler

Traffic quiz with competition

Children in traffic can cause stress

19-year-old Olivia from the canton of Fribourg is currently getting her driver’s license and has already completed twenty hours of driving lessons.
She hopes that it won’t take her so long and knows: “The most stressful thing for me is when I meet children in traffic”.
Because they often lack routine too.

"The most stressful thing for me is when I meet children in traffic."

Olivia, Fahrschülerin

Sébastien Tombez from Salavaux VD on Lake Murten is Olivia’s driving instructor.
He has been working in this profession since 2011 and took over the family business from his father in 2015.
His most important rule: “I always tell my students: I’ll teach you to drive slowly!”

He uses an example to illustrate what he means by this: “If we ride up to a slower bike, we should adopt its speed. This gives us time to think: When, how and where do we overtake with a safety distance of 1.5 meters?”

What does an Olivia driving lesson with Sébastien Tombez actually look like?
How does she act when children are near the road?
Find out in the video:

"I always tell my students: I'll teach you to drive slowly!"

Sébastien Tombez, Fahrlehrer

Interview with Dagmar Rösler, primary school teacher and President of the Dachverband Lehrerinnen und Lehrer Schweiz: “Children are impulsive and spontaneous”.

Why are children particularly at risk in road traffic?

Dagmar Rösler:

Children of pre-school and primary school age in particular are impulsive and act spontaneously. They are easily distracted in road traffic. For example, if a child sees a friend from a distance, they may suddenly focus on this encounter instead of the road. In addition, children do not yet have the same level of perception as adults.

"Children of pre-school and primary school age in particular are impulsive and act spontaneously. They are easily distracted in road traffic."

Dagmar Rösler

How can we as adults help children to be safer on the road?

We need to make children aware of the dangers of road traffic.
Only if we practise with them and accompany them on foot or by bike will they acquire the necessary routine.
The main responsibility lies with the adults.
But we also have to make it clear to children that they have a responsibility towards themselves.

Up to what age should children be accompanied on the way to school?

It depends on the route to school.
If the roads are dangerous, I would accompany them for a long time.
However, many children walk alone from kindergarten onwards.
It’s good if the children walk as a group.
Then they are better noticed in traffic.

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