Almost one in every five elementary school children serve as daily parent taxicabs
The ADAC Foundation, a well-known German automobile association, has made a recommendation for children to make their own way to school, rather than being driven, to foster their independence and safety. This suggestion comes in response to a survey commissioned by the Foundation, which found that most parents drive their children to school for reasons other than safety concerns.
The survey, as reported by "Der Spiegel", polled 1,000 parents of children aged 5 to 15 and found that only 12% of parents drive their children to school due to safety concerns. On the contrary, 22% of parents drive their children to school to save time, while another 30% do so because the school is on their commute.
The majority of parents in the survey (58%) are against the idea of driving their children to school, suggesting a potential for reducing what the Foundation calls "parent taxis" at schools. This trend is supported by Christina Tillmann, the chairwoman of the ADAC Foundation, who advocates for children to learn about traffic safety by managing their own school journey.
Tillmann argues that children don't learn about traffic safety in the back seat. By making their own way to school, children can develop a sense of responsibility and independence, as well as mutual respect in traffic. This, in turn, can contribute to their safety.
The ADAC Foundation's stance on reducing "parent taxis" is based on the survey findings that most parents drive their children to school for reasons other than safety concerns. However, the Foundation acknowledges that this change may be challenging due to the reasons given in the survey, such as appointments after school (40%) and bad weather (32%).
Despite these challenges, the ADAC Foundation believes that encouraging children to make their own way to school can have significant benefits. By doing so, children can foster their safety, independence, and mutual respect in traffic, making the roads safer for everyone.
In conclusion, the ADAC Foundation's recommendation to reduce "parent taxis" at schools is a call for parents to encourage their children to make their own way to school, fostering their independence, safety, and respect for traffic rules. This change could potentially lead to a safer and more responsible driving culture among the younger generation.
