Wrong Parking is not a Petty Offence! Parking- A cause for inattention
Parking as a cause for accidents involving children is often underestimated.
According to the Federal Office for Statistics, 6,617 children between 6 and 14 years of age were victims of traffic accidents, when crossing the street (accident with personal damage ) in towns in 2003.
Traffic Accidents are caused by inattention - Proportion of Accidents involving children crossing the street
Kinder können den Verkehr und die Geschwindigkeit nicht richtig einschätzen
Über die Hälfte der aus Fußgänger-Fehlern resultierenden innerörtlichen Kinderunfälle fällt in die Kategorie „ohne auf den Fahrzeugverkehr zu achten“. Das liegt daran, dass Kinder aufgrund ihrer Entwicklung noch nicht in der Lage sind, Verkehrssituationen und Geschwindigkeiten richtig einzuschätzen.
Daher hat der Gesetzgeber Kinder unter 10 Jahren von der Haftung für Schäden, den sie anderen zufügen, ausgenommen (Querverweis.. ).
Parkende Fahrzeuge stellen für Kinder eine Gefahr dar
Proportion of Accidents involving children crossing the street
7 % at places where the pedestrian traffic was regulated by policemen or traffic lights
6% near crossroads or entries, traffic lights or pedestrian crossings when there was a traffic jam
21% because of sudden in stepping out obstacles
53% without watching for traffic
4% because of other inappropriate action
3% playing on or beside the road
6% other mistakes made by pedestrians
Children are not able to assess traffic or speed correctly
More than half of the children accidents result from pedestrians mistakes are classified in the category “without looking for traffic”. It´ s because of the fact, that children are not able to consider traffic situations and different speed correctly due too their developmental stage.
Due to this the legislator excluded children under 10 years from liability for damages which they cause to other people (cross- reference …..).
Parking Vehicles- A Danger for Children
The biggest part of inattention of pedestrians is the “sudden step-out behind view obstacles” by nearly one-third of all examined accidents (1769 children). In most cases it means to run out behind parked vehicles. There happened an accident because children couldn’t see the vehicles or the drivers couldn’t see the children intime. This danger is often underestimated by both groups. In comparison the other inattentions, e.g. playing on or beside the road,are only minor.
Kreuzungsbereiche erfordern eine gute Sicht
An Kreuzungen und Einmündungsbereichen wird häufig bis in den Kurvenbereich hinein geparkt. Genau hier überqueren alle Fußgänger aus den verschiedenen Straßen/Einmündungen die Straße. Für erwachsene Fußgänger ist das nur ärgerlich, für Kinder stellt das eine große Gefahr dar! Sie sehen die Autos nicht, die Autofahrer sehen die Kinder nicht – und das im Kreuzungsbereich, der sowieso eine erhöhte Konzentration von den Verkehrsteilnehmern erfordert!
False Parking is Highly Dangerous for Children
Quiet often the danger of not seeing things correctly when parking your car are underestimated. One can be seen in the way how false parking on going: cars are often parked in confusing places, near crossroads, on sidewalks and cycle paths or even in the second row – comparable to ticking time bomb! They are dangerous for other!
Sidewalks and Cycle Paths – A Taboo for Cars
Sidewalks and cycle paths are small reserves for children (as for adult pedestrians and cyclists) on whom they feel secure of car traffic. If sidewalks and cycle paths are obstructed, pedestrians and cyclists have to get out of the way: there will be confusing situations which specifically endanger the weakest of the weak road-users –children!
On Crosswalks – Especially little ones – must be able to be seen
Very often drivers don’t see the necessity to also keep clear the area in front of the crosswalks. However, it is important to secure the visibility between crossing pedestrians and motorists. There is a huge danger for children caused by visibility issues due to parked cars. Mainly because pedestrians and also children assume for that they have priority over cars.
How to Park Correctly?
Always think of the others like pedestrians, cyclists, disabled people and in particular children, when you park your car. As a motorist abide by the following rules especially to avoid accidents with children.