Parents share concerns online over reckless drivers and safety risks as children travel to and from school
BEYOND the debate over whether schools themselves remain safe spaces for children, netizens are now voicing growing concerns about the journey to and from school.
In a Threads post, a user named Efy said parents today are increasingly afraid to let their children walk or cycle to school independently, unlike in the past.
“Adults these days are so irresponsible. Just earlier, I saw an Axia speeding up near a school while children were crossing the road,” he wrote.
Responding to the post, @nfibar1602_ recalled walking 5km from school to home in her childhood without encountering reckless drivers. Now a parent herself, she said she no longer feels at ease letting her child travel alone.
“These days, I’d rather break my back going back and forth sending and picking up my child because my mind wouldn’t be at ease. If anything were to happen, the regret would be endless,” she shared.
Another user, Mira, said that despite her children’s school being located just behind her house, she refuses to let them walk there due to reported kidnapping cases in the area.
“I still remember walking home alone from primary school, and it was a long walk too — by myself along a main road. When I think back, where did that bravery even come from? People back then weren’t as crazy as they are now. These days, even animals aren’t safe,” she wrote.
Zureen also shared her experience, saying she initially allowed her child to cycle to school as it made them happy. However, her decision changed after a frightening incident.
“My child said he was almost hit by a car speeding to work at dawn. After that, I couldn’t let them go on their own anymore — I’d rather be their driver for the sake of my child’s safety,” she said.
