Giessen launches safer school drop-off zones after Easter break
Giessen is set to introduce new pick-up and drop-off zones near Pestalozzi School during the Easter holidays. The changes aim to improve safety for children arriving and leaving the school. Parents will soon have designated areas to let their kids out of the car before they walk the final stretch on their own.
The city has identified dangerous situations on Pestalozzistraße, where vehicles often stopped against traffic flow or blocked other drivers. To tackle this, a new zone will be created at the corner of Curtmannstraße and Grünberger Straße, with a limited parking ban during school hours. Two more zones will appear along Eichgärtenallee—one in the THM parking lot and another between Wolfstraße and Curtmannstraße.
The rollout will include educational efforts led by the Giessen City Police's Prevention and Communication Unit. First-graders will receive traffic safety lessons, while all year groups can join guided walks along school routes. Children will also work with teachers to design signs for the new zones. Mayor Alexander Wright explained that the changes aim to reduce risks caused by chaotic parking and dangerous manoeuvres near the school. The zones will give children a safer way to start and end their school day.
The new zones will be in place after the Easter break. Alongside the physical changes, lessons and guided walks will help children understand road safety. The city has not announced plans to expand the model to other schools at this time.
