Enjoy watching our campaign video
Viersen police
It's in your hands - better not!
On the bike: keep your hands off your cell phone!
Campaign "You have it in your hands - better not!" - is running
We've been waiting almost exactly a year to finally get started. Corona made it impossible. Instead of March 1, 2020, we started on March 22, 2021, using our video and posters to draw the attention of young cyclists in particular to the dangers of cell phones on handlebars.
We have now arrived at the third stop in Kempen on our tour through the district of Viersen. We've already been to Viersen and Willich, and Nettetal will follow at the beginning of June.
These four towns are still the most affected by accidents involving children and young people on bicycles - even if the overall level has fortunately fallen across the district in recent years. In 2016, the district of Viersen was the district in the country with the highest risk of accidents for young cyclists in relation to the population.
In the "VORKIDS" project (Viersen safety offensive for children cycling in road traffic), this problem has been scientifically investigated since 2017. With the result that there is no "one" cause for the accidents, but that there are many different things that all road users can do to make cycling safer in the district of Viersen.
One of these things is to leave your cell phone in your pocket when cycling.
"I am glad that the scientific analysis has not remained the only thing, but that we are continuing here in the district of Viersen," said District Administrator Dr. Andreas Coenen at the launch of the campaign. "We want to continue our work and bring what is important to the minds and hearts of young people."
He thanked the four initiators of the campaign for their ideas and implementation. He was also delighted that the Realschule an der Josefskirche is now available as the first "partner" in the project.
Seventh graders Janik and Alexia were the first to see the posters outside their school and now want to spread the idea to their classmates. As part of the work of the road safety advisors, other schools will gradually be included and will be able to show the video and posters and talk to their pupils about the topic.
How the campaign came about
A young colleague and three colleagues thought about what they could do after a service meeting to better reach young people so that their cell phones stay in their pockets and no longer pose a danger on their bikes.
The slogan "You've got it in your hand - better not!" was born. Initially with a single image, but shortly afterwards with the idea of producing a video clip to shake people up.
Because one thing is clear: attention is the be-all and end-all when cycling. Even if a cyclist does not cause an accident themselves, but is the victim of an accident - there is no crumple zone that can mitigate injuries.
Why are we doing this?
How did it all start?
We are making a film - to reach young cyclists.
We have enjoyed our work and now hope that you young people will take our video clip to heart.
