Public-Private Collaboration Creates New Training Venue as German Road Safety Push Targets All Ages
11.06.2026 - 02:22:52 | boerse-global.de
A logistics center belonging to tool manufacturer Stahlwille in Radevormwald is doubling as a driving safety training ground starting this year. The Wuppertal Verkehrswacht (traffic watch association) has secured the site to meet growing demand for realistic practice areas. Participants can book slots through portal Sicherheitstraining24 for four dates in 2026: July 18 and 19, and September 12 and 13.
Practical Maneuvers on Company Premises
Stahlwille is providing the space free of charge — a response to what organizers describe as a pressing shortage of suitable locations for vehicle-handling exercises. The facility enables drivers to simulate complex traffic scenarios in a controlled, off-road environment. The training is open to both private motorists and commercial fleet drivers.
Farther south, in Mechernich, an even larger project is taking shape. Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK) intends to build a comprehensive safety center on a former Bundeswehr site. Plans include a driving safety track alongside a dedicated hydrogen production unit. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with operations expected to start at the end of 2029.
School: The Starting Point for Safer Roads
While adults refine their skills on corporate lots, associations are also targeting the youngest road users. In the Mettmann district, the eighth edition of the "Sicher zur Schule" (Safe to School) campaign kicked off on June 9. Around 5,000 media kits were distributed to daycare centers, containing reflective owl figures that make preschoolers more visible in traffic. Partners include industrial firm Lhoist and the Unfallkasse NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia accident insurance fund).
A different approach was tried in Wuppertal on June 8, where a mobility rally took place at the Erzbischöfliche Tagesschule Dönberg. Organized by the city administration, police, and the local Verkehrswacht, the event aimed to boost pupils’ independence and reduce the number of "parent taxis" dropping children directly at the gate. More schools across the city are expected to participate.
Infrastructure Changes Back Up Education
Physical road alterations are complementing awareness campaigns. In Castrop-Rauxel, the sixth school street in the city opened on June 8 at Erich-Kästner-Schule. Lessingstraße is now closed to through traffic during drop-off and pick-up periods. The measure cuts accident risks from parking and turning maneuvers directly in front of the school building.
Meanwhile, the Verkehrswacht Wanne-Eickel is hosting an information session on June 12 in Herne’s Feldherrenviertel district. Residents will learn about current safety standards and local initiatives. The pattern is clear: municipalities, private companies, and volunteers are increasingly pooling resources to make Germany’s roads safer — from the factory floor to the school crossing.
