Traffic controllers, traffic lights and zebra crossings: the city makes routes to school safer
From next Monday, 24,349 pupils will be going back to school in Chemnitz.1867 ABC pupils will be making their way to school, initially accompanied by adults and later alone. In Gablenz, Schönau, Wittgensdorf, Harthau, Altchemnitz, Rottluff, Euba and Schloßchemnitz, school walk assistants will therefore ensure that they take their first steps. Children have longer journeys to school here, as the catchment areas of these primary schools are larger than others. This is why the little ones in Schönau and Harthau are also accompanied on local transport journeys. In Gablenz and Wittgensdorf, the after-school care centre is located outside the school. Guides take the pupils there safely. Over the next two years, children from Ludwig-Richter and Altendorf primary schools will be able to get to school safely by school bus. These school buildings are being renovated, so the little ones will commute to alternative classrooms at Philippstraße 20 and Flemming Primary School. The school road safety working group and the civil engineering department are working together to make school routes even safer. To this end, they are in contact with the police, head teachers and parents' councils. As a result of this co-operation, the following new safety precautions have been taken:
Traffic lights and clear visibility
A new traffic light will help primary school children in Ebersdorf to cross Frankenberger Straße. The town is also planning a pavement at this point for their safety. In addition, the bus stop there will be relocated to a safer place for pedestrians. On the other hand, the civil engineering department has introduced parking bans on Rudolf-Krahl-Straße at Berganger and Am Karbel so that parked cars no longer block the view of children crossing the road on their way to school. The authorities also took similar action to ensure the safety of Reichenbrand primary school children on Heinrich-Bretschneider-Straße. It is particularly dangerous where cars are parked on both sides of the road. Small children cannot see anything between the cars and are barely visible themselves. Such confusing situations used to occur in front of the Montessori primary school on Hans-Ziegler-Straße when parents were dropping off or picking up their children. Now the civil engineering department has created clearer stopping options.
Traffic law applied & buildings for more safety
Traffic law measures such as reducing the speed limit or putting up "Attention children" danger signs serve as safety precautions. For this reason, a 30 km/h speed limit now also applies on Ferdinandstraße near the Kleinolbersdorf primary school and daycare centre. And on Annaberger Straße, near the Harthau primary school, the city has extended the "30 km/h zone".
In September, a footpath will be built between Kleinolbersdorf primary school and the nearby bus stop to improve road safety. The renovation of the Altenhainer Dorfstraße/Am Winkel bus stop will also create sufficient space for waiting children. The route to Eberdorf primary school runs along Frankenberger Straße. A footpath will soon be built here and traffic lights installed for pedestrians. With the relocation of the Frankenberger Straße/Mittweidaer Straße bus stop, the transport authority also hopes to improve safety for pedestrians.
A central island will also be installed on Fürstenstrasse at Uhlandstrasse. It is intended to make the route to Georg-Weerth-Oberschule school safer. Another central island is being built on Oberfrohnaer Straße within sight of the "Punkt West" youth centre. By setting up footpath projections on Wittgensdorfer Straße at Auerswalder Straße, the traffic authority wants to narrow the road area to be crossed by Borna primary school pupils and at the same time encourage vehicles to drive more slowly.
Speed checks
Between 26 August and 6 September, law enforcement officers will be present in front of primary schools. Stationary traffic near school routes will also be checked. They want to encourage drivers to behave considerately towards children. Police speed checks in front of schools and in areas close to schools will also help, as will traffic monitoring at school bus stops and public transport stops. As a prelude, the police department has announced checks for the first day of school on 26 August. Speed checks will be carried out between 6.30 and 8.30 am and between 10.30 and 12.30 am near the "Albert Einstein" primary school in the Markersdorfer Straße/Max-Türpe-Straße area.