Road safety in the Viersen district: Children in the focus of prevention!

Road safety in the Viersen district: Children in the focus of prevention!

On June 3rd, a nationwide road safety action day took place in the Viersen district, which provided a lot of valuable information for all age groups. The focus was on the topics of distraction, turning, speed and, above all, the safety of the route to school. The traffic prevention team visited daycare centers and schools to carry out targeted actions. Cycling tests, sidewalk training and parent evenings were offered to raise awareness of road safety. Local click reports on a special “blind spot” campaign that took place at the Franziskusschule in Viersen-Süchteln.

Here the police officers PHK Daniel Kogge and PHK Tobias Stapper explained to the students when cyclists are visible in the mirror of a car and how important eye contact is when turning. This information is particularly important because accidents involving trucks are a serious source of danger for cyclists and pedestrians. According to a study by KFV Between 2015 and 2019, one in five pedestrians killed and one in six cyclists killed died in accidents involving trucks. Even if trucks are only involved in a small proportion of accidents, they often have serious consequences.

Dangers of the blind spot

The dangers of the blind spot should not be underestimated. Critical situations often arise for cyclists, especially when trucks turn right. Pedestrians are also often at risk when a truck starts from a standstill and moves directly in front of them. Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Robatsch, head of traffic safety research at KFV, emphasizes that many road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists, are not sufficiently informed about the visibility conditions from the perspective of a truck driver.

In order to prevent accidents, it is crucial to use both technical aids and infrastructure measures. The recommendations include, among other things, improving visibility and correct mirror adjustment in trucks as well as installing turning and emergency braking assistants. Separate traffic light phases for vehicles turning right and pedestrians as well as advanced stopping lines for cyclists can also help to make traffic significantly safer.

Controls to minimize risks

As part of these initiatives, the police in the Viersen district also carried out district-wide checks to monitor the main causes of accidents. When around 360 vehicles were checked, a total of 130 violations were punished; These include, among other things, excessive speed and errors when turning. Such measures are part of a comprehensive program to increase road safety and are particularly important to raise awareness of these issues and prevent tragic accidents.

The Viersen police officers are available at any time to provide further information on road safety advice. Ultimately, it's about ensuring that everyone can be mobile safely and carefree.