In recent years, around 2,000 children have been injured in traffic in connection with the start of the autumn term, according to figures from the Swedish Transport Agency. This includes everything from falling off their bicycles to more serious fractures, but the trend is pointing in the wrong direction.
For many families with children, the start of school is a stressful time, notes Jacob Sidenvall, traffic safety expert at the Swedish National Association of Motorcyclists.
There is a lot to think about when everyone is going back to their daily routines, and there is a fragility about it. Many children are new road users, which increases the risk of making mistakes, he says.
Urges caution
Fewer and fewer children are taking their bikes to school these days. Instead, many gather around bus stops where many different vehicles meet. Jacob Sidenvall urges motorists who are out on the roads in the morning and afternoon to keep in mind that there are many children on the road.
If all drivers, not just those with children, become aware of this, I think it will do a lot to make it easier for everyone, says Jacob Sidenvall.
Car-free zones
To increase traffic safety, several municipalities around the country have worked to create safer environments around schools, including car-free zones.
In Uppsala, the zones have been tested at two schools along with other measures such as better lighting and marked pedestrian routes to and from bus stops. The response from both students and parents has been positive and the measures will be introduced at more schools this autumn, says Shirin Khalil, traffic planner at Uppsala Municipality.
"There are many parents who care and are committed and want to see increased road safety. Then there are those who react that it will be more difficult to leave, but the majority are positive about the change," she says.
Test the route
According to Jacob Sidenvall, there are several things you as a parent can do to give yourself and your child the best conditions for the autumn term.
A lot of it is about giving yourself time in the morning and avoiding stress when driving your child to school. If your child is going to take themselves to school, it may be wise to test the route once before the first day of school.
If you accompany your child to school or via public transport, you ensure that they are more prepared for what may happen around them, says Jacob Sidenvall.
All traffic accidents involving children aged 6–18 during August and September. It is not specified whether the child was on his way to or from school at the time of the accident.
2016: 1,683
2017: 1,611
2018: 1,335
2019: 1,554
2020: 1,439
2021: 1,716
2022: 1,785
2023: 1,898
2024: 2,042
2025: 1,982
Source: Strada, Swedish Transport Agency
