Many School Children Are Not Properly Secured

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

According to a random sample by the ADAC, a third of parents do not properly protect their children on the way to school. Even with the kindergarten children there is slouching.

Every day tens of thousands of children in Germany are driven unsecured in their cars to school or kindergarten. For example, an ADAC sample of 1,569 vehicles showed that almost a third of schoolchildren between the ages of six and twelve were not properly secured in their cars. Five percent of the children were not even wearing a seat belt, and 20 percent were not sitting in one of the seats required for this age group. Emergency braking can lead to very serious injuries to children who are improperly secured.

Control in 2325 children

2325 children were checked in front of schools and kindergartens in eleven federal states. Over 700 children under the age of six and 1610 pupils between the ages of six and twelve were recorded. Many parents act grossly negligent, especially when transporting small children. 28 percent of those under six were not properly secured, three percent only buckled with the adult seat belt, and another three percent were even sitting in the car without any security. It is also to be criticized that twelve percent of the little ones sat in the correct child seat, but were exposed to considerable dangers due to incorrect belt routing or other operating errors.

The club also criticized the use of booster seats. Six percent of small children, for example, sat on a seat that was not yet approved for them. Booster seats meet the legal requirements from a body weight of 15 kilograms, but do not offer any side protection and are therefore not recommended.

Check children buckle up

In view of the appalling results, the ADAC is calling for more checks in front of kindergartens and schools. Parents are urged to pay close attention to child safety regulations. Children who already buckle up on their own should be checked. (mid)