Thousands of first graders start school journey across Finland

Thousands of students across Finland embarked on their first school journey today, marking a significant milestone in their education. This autumn, around 54,000 first graders are starting school in Finland. According to Laura Väinölä, a planner at the Finnish Road Safety Agency, it’s essential for the school journey to feel safe for children, an experience they shouldn’t have to worry about. Sufficient time should be allocated for the journey, allowing children to observe traffic and make safe decisions.

Väinölä highlights that particularly dangerous spots on school routes include crossings, intersections, and various visual obstacles.

Accompanied by three elementary school students, we explored their daily routes. For Kaarlo Turunen, an Oulu first-grader, his journey mostly involves a familiar forest path. However, a busy pedestrian crossing on Lintulammentie presents a new challenge he’s faced only a few times. “Crossing the pedestrian crossing and getting here was a bit exciting,” he described upon arriving at school. Kaarlo plans to walk to school alone sometimes, while other times he will go with a nearby friend, confidently stating that he knows proper behavior at traffic lights.

Helinä Hiekkaselle, a second grader at Joensuu’s Tulliportin Normal School, lives in the city center and has a school route filled with busy traffic. “There’s nothing to be nervous about anymore. I walk to school alone or with my friend now,” she shared. Helinä expressed her hope that adult drivers would be more aware of school children.

Roope Kulmanen, 9, from Nokia walks or rides his bike over a kilometer, noting that cars often come fast, especially near school. Senior Constable Hannu Huhta-aho from the Central Finland Police emphasizes that drivers must focus purely on driving, especially around children, who might act unpredictably.

Overall, the Finnish Road Safety Agency hopes all road users will pay attention to young pedestrians and reflect on their own behavior in traffic. As Laura Väinölä states, “Children model our behavior, both good and bad, in traffic, so it’s crucial to set a good example.”