Improving road safety for children and adolescents

To improve road safety, especially for children and young people, the City of Grenchen, Switzerland, has invested in measures in close cooperation with the police, the construction department, the urban planning unit, schools and parents. This collaboration includes improving the safety of crossings, such as adding new signposts and lamps; introducing a road safety education programme for schools and kindergartens, with new topics related to road safety each year adapted to their age and needs; and bringing the police and the urban planning department together to discuss any new construction projects through the lens of road safety. One contact person is appointed for each school area. School roads are also regularly monitored by the city. The programme has led to a reduction in traffic accidents in the city. In recent years, no accident has been recorded at pedestrian crossings.