Hannes is already a bit excited. "Immediately the police come and then we go with through the streets and the traffic because we practice that for the school." The six-year-old is one of six pre-school children in the VKJ Kinderhaus Am Wasser who have a date with a real cop this morning.
On time at 10 clock stands Harald Schopp, police chief commissioner of the Kettwiger guard, in front of the Kita door on Kettwiger Ruhrbogen. After the welcome, it can also start with the "traffic space inspection". The officer quickly strips his safety vest. It shines neon yellow. "It does not have to look pretty, it just has to be safe," says the policeman. "If you're later on the way to school, you're wearing a backpack, which is well equipped with reflective materials that shine in the dark, so motorists see you in time."
Protect reflectors
The children, who come to the primary school after the summer holidays, first learn the traffic starts directly behind the Kita gate. However, instead of a road in the new development area, " there is only one unpaved construction site path," Noah notes. Harald Schopp confirms:" Yes, there is still a sidewalk missing, because you're right on the street and there are cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, and buses driving That's why it's important that you always pay close attention: look and hear what's going on in the traffic - you do not even see a lot, but you hear it already, for example, a loud car. "
On their way from Kettwiger Ruhrbogen to Güterstraße, the children practice the same way as crossing a street correctly. "Do not get too close to the curb, otherwise you can lose your balance and fall on the street." The children practice only in groups of two, then every child goes alone across the street. And they do everything right the first time: stay a foot's distance away from the curb and look first to the left, then to the right, then left again and then walk over. "Always walk the shortest route, do not dawdle or pick something up while you walk over. Once you're off, move on quickly," the chief police officer tells the children.
Mind you "go" mind you: "You should not run, because it could fall! In addition, you should not fool around on the sidewalk or push each other, because it could stumble and fall."
Ella already knows that one must always cross a street at the traffic lights if there is one. "Exactly," confirms Harald Schopp. "You always go at the traffic light or on the crosswalk across the street, if available."
Meanwhile, the small group has arrived at the Ruhrtalstraße. Here is already much more traffic. Together with Harald Schopp and her educator Nadine Niederehe, the children go to the left in the direction of Ringstraße. They pass by the holding bay for the bus. "There, where buses leave, you also have to be careful", Hannes exclaims and is right. "This is a particularly large intersection," says the chief inspector of the place. Buses start from the right, large trucks turn into the ring road in the direction of Vor der Brücke. In between lots of cars and cyclists. "Do you see the red stripes?" Asks Harald Schopp, explaining: "These are bike paths, sometimes on the road and sometimes on the sidewalk, where cyclists are always safer Always use cyclists. "
The traffic light between the ring road and the main street is the next learning place for the children. Not just any traffic light, but a special one: "This is a blind traffic light with knocking signs that signal blind people when to stop and when to go." There is also a waiting island. "It's there if it turns red when you cross the road, then you do not turn back, but wait on the waiting island."
The kids reach the main street and here they can expect a real highlight: they are allowed to visit the police station! Even the big police motorcycle in front of the door attracts the children. Harald Schopp's colleague Thomas Köhler shows the children the big BMW machine, which also has neon yellow, reflective paint everywhere, as well as the police cars and Harald Schopp's vest. "If you wear bright clothing with reflective fabrics or reflectors on the road, the other road users will see you better," says Schopp.
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