In the month of August it is a familiar sight. Groups of students with overflowing book bags on the back of the bike or in a crate in front of the handlebars. According to Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN), there are twice as many casualties among 11 and 12-year-old students in the first weeks of school than in other months. “The youngest students are inexperienced, less agile and the traffic around them has become faster, also on the cycle path,” says traffic expert Ruud Hornman. “Which school still takes a traffic exam these days?”, he asks questioningly.
More traffic, more speed, less inclination to take each other into account and shorter fuses. Traffic expert Hornman outlines the current situation on the road in a nutshell. “The most vulnerable road users are the victims of this. All in all, these are the cyclists, especially the inexperienced cyclists. You used to get away with a scraped knee, but nowadays the traffic is faster and you get more serious injuries as a result. “
In 2021, about 6700 students (8 to 14 year olds) will be treated at the emergency department after a bicycle accident. Two of the three suffered serious injuries. Almost a quarter of the accidents happened in the months of August and September.
“Steering that hooks together is an everyday occurrence.”
Especially the youngest students cycle heavily packed and with bags to the next stop in their school career. “That usually happens in groups. In general, they are busier with each other and pay less attention to traffic. Nowadays, the backpacks are placed in the crate. That makes a bicycle less manoeuvrable. It would be better on the back for balance. Usually cycling they with more men next to each other than there is space. Steering that hooks together is commonplace.”
“A mistake or error is now more likely to be followed by a collision.”
According to Hornman, the speed on the road, but also the difference in speeds on the bike path with electric bicycles and scooters, is often the cause of more serious accidents. He also sees that many young people are taking over their parents’ e-bikes for the ride to school. “Today’s busy traffic allows fewer mistakes. A mistake or oversight is now more likely to be followed by a collision than in the past.”
Six tips from VVN for motorists so that students can cycle to and from school safely
- Adjust your speed
- Drive mobile-free
- Avoid school zones
- Work from home
- Depart on time
- Grab the bike yourself