Eichendorf celebrates school helpers: safety for our children!

Eichendorf celebrates school helpers: safety for our children!

In Eichendorf, the market town made a memorable gesture: Mayor Josef Beham, together with others, honored the dedicated school helpers from the Joseph von Eichendorff School at a celebratory meal. Nine school helpers and 20 student guides actively contribute to the safety of children on the way to school. “Their commitment is really unique in the district,” said Josef Beer from the Landau regional traffic police, praising the helpers who not only ensure more safety, but also create a good feeling for the parents. This is particularly important given the fact that around 1.7 million students in Bavaria are on their way to school stmi.bayern.de informed.

Around 134,000 children are attending their first grade this school year, which makes the issue of safety on the way to school even more pressing. Despite all efforts, the number of accidents on the way to school remains high, even if fatal accidents have fortunately fallen to zero in recent years. Fortunately, the statistics from the 1970s, when up to 35 children died in accidents, are history. Nevertheless, one accident on the way to school is one too many, and that is why over 25,000 volunteers in Bavaria are committed to ensuring safe routes to school.

Appreciation for merit

Personal achievements were also recognized during the ceremony. Jasmin Dillinger received flowers as a thank you for her volunteer work, while Helmut Mühlberger was recognized for his many years of work in the area of ​​school route safety. He handed over his tasks to Michael Lex, who will now bring a breath of fresh air into the team. Those interested can contact the school office or the town hall if they would also like to become active as school helpers.

The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior is actively committed to improving safety on the way to school. As part of the 2030 traffic safety program under the motto “Bayern mobile – safely to your destination”, over 100,000 first-graders are trained every year in traffic safety on how to use traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. This shows how serious the Bavarian government is about making the way to school suitable for everyday use and, above all, safe. Every year the police train almost 10,000 new volunteers to work as school helpers, an approach that has been very successful in recent decades: there have not been any fatal accidents at secured crossings since 1980.

Joint action for more security

The importance of safety on the way to school is also underlined by the local road safety officers, who regularly check the safety situation at schools and school bus stops. The police are also on constant duty, monitoring school buses and carrying out checks to ensure that traffic around schools is fair and safe. Measures such as pedestrian crossings and speed limits are derived from these tests to create a safe environment for students.

The local press provides information about current safety problems and the measures taken, especially at the start of the school year, which also contributes to raising awareness among road users. The State Traffic Watch Bavaria e.V. as well as the “Safe to School – Safe Home” campaign offer a wide range of programs and materials for traffic education and thus make a valuable contribution to the safety of the youngest road users.