"Jena in Action" Kicks Off with School Commute Safety

With the new on-site initiative “Jena in Action,” Mayor and Head of Public Safety Benjamin Koppe is seeking direct dialogue with first responders, employees, volunteers, and committed members of the Jena community. To kick things off, on this first day of school following the summer break, he joined police officers in monitoring the routes to school around the Lobdeburg School. The focus was on safe routes to school, the behavior of so-called “parent taxis,” no-stopping zones, line-of-sight visibility, and mutual consideration in traffic.

“The first day of school is a good opportunity to use ‘Jena in Action’ to take a close look at exactly where people take on responsibility every day. Safety on the way to school is evident every morning right outside our schools. For first-graders in particular, the walk to school is a new situation in which they first have to find their bearings and gain experience in traffic. That’s why it’s important for all of us to be especially attentive and considerate,” says Mayor Benjamin Koppe.

School crossing guards at Lobdeburg School

During his visit, Koppe was able to see firsthand what police officers look out for when monitoring the route to school and what situations arise during morning school traffic. The police are supported in this effort by student crossing guards. At Lobdeburg School, around 15 teenagers volunteer for this task. They are trained by the police and must pass a written and practical exam. Every weekday morning, four student crossing guards are on duty on Drackendorfer Weg and Paul-Schneider-Weg, come rain or shine. The school and the police work closely together on this.

“The students are voluntarily taking on responsibility here and are thereby making a very concrete contribution to the safety of their classmates. Today’s event also demonstrated how important cooperation between the police, schools, and local residents is. It is precisely this direct exchange that I would like to continue with ‘Jena im Einsatz,’” said Koppe.

Safe Routes to School

So-called “parent taxis” also play a role in school route safety. Parents’ desire to get their children to school safely is understandable. At the same time, drop-off and pick-up traffic directly in front of schools can lead to confusing situations. No-stopping zones should therefore be observed, sightlines kept clear, and unnecessary stops directly in front of school entrances avoided.

“We can only ensure safe routes to school by working together. The police, the city, schools, parents, cross-walk monitors, and all other road users contribute to this. My aim is not to criticize individual groups. What matters is that we are attentive, considerate, and take action where necessary. When children get to school and back home safely, we’ve all done something right,” emphasizes Koppe.

“Jena in Action”

Through “Jena in Action,” the mayor plans to visit various locations and neighborhoods in the city on a regular basis. The focus will not be on traditional site visits, but on open conversations on an equal footing. Koppe wants to learn what matters to local residents, what’s working well, and where challenges lie.

“Many issues that we decide on and implement in government and politics are seen from a different perspective on the ground. That’s why I want to listen, ask questions, and learn firsthand what motivates people in their daily work and their commitment. Direct dialogue with those who dedicate themselves to Jena every day and take on responsibility provides important insights into how things work in practice,” says Koppe.