Recent data indicates a concerning trend in road safety for children in Germany. Throughout 2024, approximately every 19 minutes a child under the age of 15 was either injured or killed in a traffic accident. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported on Thursday that around 27,260 children were involved in such incidents, a figure comparable to the 27,240 recorded in 2023. However, the number of fatalities rose from 44 in 2023 to 53 in 2024.
This marks a continuation of a trend seen in recent years. Following a notable decrease during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the number of children harmed in traffic accidents has been steadily increasing in both 2022 and 2023.
Analysis of the data reveals specific peak times for incidents involving children aged 6 to 14. Monday through Friday, between 7:00 and 8:00 AM – coinciding with the typical school commute – accounts for 13 percent of all accidents involving this age group. Accident rates are lower during subsequent hours until 1:00 PM, but rise again, reaching 9 percent each, between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM and then again between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, also Monday through Friday.
In 2024, the majority of children involved in accidents were traveling by car (35 percent). Bicycles accounted for 33 percent of incidents, while 21 percent involved pedestrian accidents. However, these numbers vary significantly based on age. Children under six are most often involved in accidents while traveling in cars with supervising adults – accounting for 58 percent of such incidents in 2024.
As children grow older and gain more independence, their modes of transport shift. School-aged children are increasingly likely to cycle or walk and consequently, the proportion of bicycle and pedestrian accidents rises within this age group. Among 6- to 14-year-olds, cycling was the most common circumstance in accidents (38 percent), followed by car travel (29 percent) and walking (20 percent).