VVN is launching the Schoolyard Challenge to help road users gain a greater understanding of the importance of road safety, particularly that of schoolchildren. An expert jury will assess which three classes have submitted the most original entries; these classes will win a prize package. The very best class will win a 3D drawing workshop with street artist Rianne te Kaat, where they will learn to create real 3D drawings. Registration for the Schoolyard Challenge is possible here.

On 22 August, VVN chairman Martijn Dadema, together with Minister of Transport Mark Harbers and Rotterdam alderman for mobility Vincent Karremans, officially launched the campaign and challenge at OBS Prins Alexander in Rotterdam. The campaign is still urgently needed because of the late-summer spike in accidents among schoolchildren cycling to school. “We need to make traffic even safer. I therefore support Veilig Verkeer Nederland’s ‘Our schools have started again’ campaign and the Schoolyard Challenge, which are intended to ensure that everyone is alert again after the summer holidays and takes part in traffic safely. So cars must not drive too fast, and both motorists and children cycling to school must drive without using their mobile phones,” said Minister of Transport Mark Harbers.

Parents and motorists have a role to play

Veilig Verkeer Nederland is calling on parents to practise the route frequently with their children. The more road experience young schoolchildren gain, the more safely they will navigate traffic. In this way, road safety education contributes to children’s independence in traffic.

Motorists can help schoolchildren cycling to school by avoiding school zones and their surroundings. If this is genuinely impossible, Veilig Verkeer Nederland asks drivers to travel at an appropriate speed. Finally, Veilig Verkeer Nederland is calling on schoolchildren and their parents to check their bicycles for defects, so that children can cycle to school safely.

Young cyclists bear the brunt

The peak in accidents among schoolchildren after the summer is still visible, but mainly among 11- and 12-year-olds. Among this group of schoolchildren who cycle to school, almost twice as many victims are recorded in the weeks after the summer holidays as in other months. In 2021, 6,700 children aged 8 to 14 were treated in an Accident and Emergency department following a cycling accident. In almost two-thirds of cases, the victim sustained serious injuries (61%). Almost one-quarter (23%) of cycling accidents occurred in August and September combined (1,500).

Speeding is a major cause of many road accidents. It is estimated that one-third of all fatal accidents are caused directly or indirectly by excessive speed. According to the Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research (SWOV), reducing speeds among motorised traffic is therefore one of the most effective measures for increasing the safety of schoolchildren in traffic. The campaign image therefore consists of a speedometer with schoolchildren hanging from it. The message: Our schools have started again. Adjust your speed.

Awareness of road safety

According to VVN, road safety is not the first thing everyone thinks about as soon as they leave the house, even though this would benefit everyone’s safety in traffic. Especially now that schools are reopening.

Using a smartphone in traffic is no longer the norm

In addition to reducing speed, the Netherlands can also improve road safety by driving more often without distractions and without using mobile phones (MONO). According to VVN, using a smartphone in traffic is no longer the norm in our country, but it still happens too often. One-quarter (27%) of all motorists still use their smartphone in the car. Of these, 17% say they read messages or app messages while driving, and 10% even type messages in response. Around 5% pay less attention to traffic because they make calls with the phone held to their ear while driving. According to VVN, people’s social circles are increasingly disapproving of these risky actions.