The route to school doesn’t begin only on the first day of school. Those who walk it together beforehand discover spots with limited visibility, find safe crossings, and give the child routine. It’s not the shortest route that counts, but the route the child can reliably judge and manage. The following nine rules help families in Austria train the route to school step by step.
Why practice is more important than a good explanation
Children perceive distances, speeds and sounds differently than adults. AUVA therefore recommends practicing the route to school several times under real conditions — including the return journey, different times of day and varying traffic levels. KFV also points out that marked crossings do not automatically guarantee safe situations: in a nationwide observation in Austria, eight percent of vehicles did not stop despite a clearly indicated intention to cross.
1. Choose the safe route rather than the fast one
Walk several route options together. Prefer streets with low traffic, wide sidewalks, good lighting and crossings with traffic lights, center islands, zebra crossings or school-crossing protection. A short detour is sensible if it avoids a blind curve, a heavily trafficked intersection or many parked cars. For many primary schools there are specific school-route plans on schulwegplan.at.
2. Check every spot from a child's height
At every crossing, squat down or bend over to the child's eye level. Can they see the road? Are they visible to approaching vehicles? Hedges, dumpsters, corners of buildings, crests, and parked cars can obstruct the view. If a spot remains difficult from a child's perspective, look for another crossing or accompany the child there for longer.
3. Always stop before crossing
The fixed sequence is: stand at the edge of the sidewalk, look and listen in both directions, then walk. Practice this routine at every crossing, not just at pedestrian crossings. The child should only start walking when the road is clear or all vehicles have come to a safe stop. A short mnemonic like "Stop – look – go" helps when time is tight in the morning.
4. Do not replace eye contact with trust
A visible vehicle is not yet a safely stopped vehicle. The child should try to make eye contact with the driver and wait for a reaction. At the same time, the rule applies: no one has to insist on their right of way if a situation seems dangerous. The KFV recommends continuing to use pedestrian crossings, but checking carefully before stepping onto them whether it is actually safe to cross.
5. Remove distraction and haste from training
Plan a few minutes of buffer time in the morning. Running, pushing, and sudden changes of direction increase the risk that a child will overlook a driveway or an approaching bicycle. Smartphones, headphones, and toys should remain in the bag while walking. Also, practice how the child should react if a friend suddenly stops or wants to leave the route.
6. Improve visibility for the entire route
Bright clothing and reflective elements on bags, shoes, or jackets make children more visible at dusk, in rain, and in fog. Reflectors should be visible not only at the back but also at the sides. Check together whether hoods, school bags, or umbrellas restrict the view of the street. The guidance from the Ministry of Transport's guidance on visibility for the school route are suitable as a short reminder for the family.
7. Explain, demonstrate and comment on critical points
Parents should first demonstrate themselves what to do at a crossing. Afterwards the child explains aloud what it perceives: Where is the view clear? From which direction could a vehicle come? When is it safe to go? This "thinking aloud" shows whether the rule has been understood. Repeat the exercise on different days, because the walk to school can look different at midday than early in the morning.
8. Let the child take the lead
After a few rounds together, the child walks in front and sets the way. The adult stays within reach but only intervenes if necessary. This makes it visible whether the child actually knows the agreed route, stops at crossings, and does not get distracted by shortcuts or friends. The AUVA recommends observing the route later from a safe distance before the child’s first solo outing begins.
9. Don't allow going alone based solely on the calendar
Whether a child can walk alone depends not only on age. What's decisive are attentiveness, understanding of traffic, the specific route and the ability to react to unexpected situations. Let the child first handle short sections independently. Then unobtrusively check whether they apply the same rules at difficult spots. At construction sites, detours or in darkness, accompaniment may again be necessary.
The 60-second checklist before school starts
- Is the route quiet, clear and planned with safe crossings?
- Has every difficult spot been viewed from a child's eye level?
- Does the child stop, look and listen before every crossing?
- Are clothing and bag easily visible in low visibility?
- Are the smartphone and headphones kept stowed during the walk?
- Can the child explain the route and name a safe detour?
Starting school also involves a reliable sleep schedule and a realistic morning routine. Tips for this are provided by the 7-day plan for the sleep schedule before starting school. Anyone who wants to additionally plan expenses for notebooks, schoolbag and starting school can find information on School Start Allowance 2026.
