Every 5th elementary school student acts as a parent's personal driver on a daily basis

In a recent survey conducted by the ADAC Foundation, insights were gathered on the transportation habits of primary school children in Germany. A total of 1,000 parents of children aged between 5 and 15 were questioned, shedding light on various factors influencing the decision to drive their children to school.

The survey found that a significant number of parents, 58%, do not drive their children to school. However, the reasons for this decision vary. A notable portion of parents, 19%, opt to let their children travel independently as a means of teaching them about road traffic, according to Christina Tillmann, chairwoman of the ADAC Foundation.

On the other hand, 32% of parents cited bad weather as a reason for driving their children to school, while 30% do so because the school is located on their commute. Interestingly, only 12% of respondents cited safety concerns as a reason for driving their children to school.

The survey also revealed that 19% of primary school students are driven to school every day, and 9% are driven every second day. One of the most common reasons for driving children to school, according to the survey, is due to parents having appointments after school, accounting for 40% of the responses.

Despite the findings, the ADAC Foundation finds it challenging to reduce the reasons for what they refer to as "parent taxis." The organisation did not provide a new total number of respondents or a new breakdown of reasons for driving children to school.

It is worth noting that in urban areas, a considerable share of parents use cars regularly for school transport. Studies show that in cities like Hamburg, nearly one-third of primary school children are still brought to school by car daily by their parents, causing traffic and safety issues.

Christina Tillmann encourages children to make their own way to school, stating that trusting children with their school journey independently strengthens their safety, independence, and mutual respect in traffic. The ADAC Foundation does not discuss any new statistics on the percentage of primary school students driven to school every day or every second day.

In conclusion, the ADAC Foundation's survey provides valuable insights into the transportation habits of primary school children in Germany. While the reasons for driving children to school are varied, the organisation continues to advocate for independent travel as a means of teaching children about road safety and promoting independence.