School phone ban drives heavier use on journeys to school

A ban on unauthorised smart device use during lessons has led pupils to use their phones more intensively on the way to and from school, Yle reports. The change may affect traffic safety, according to Eini Karvonen, a communications manager at the road safety organisation Liikenneturva.

The ban has been in force since last August. It was introduced to improve classroom discipline and pupils’ concentration, and has received strong support from both principals and students.

Karvonen said pupils now take out their phones more often during their journeys to school. She warned that this can distract them from traffic.

“The brain is not able to concentrate properly on more than one thing at a time,” Karvonen said.

Families should especially advise younger pupils to focus on traffic rather than browsing their phones on the way to school. They can also consider whether the phone needs to be taken to school at all. If a young child needs to call home after school, the child should stop, for example at the school, before making the call. Otherwise, the phone should remain in the schoolbag.

No dangerous incidents reported in Mikkeli schools

At Kalevankangas and Rantakylä comprehensive schools in Mikkeli, phone use is banned not only during lessons but also during breaks and lunch breaks.

Janne Syrjäläinen, principal of Kalevankangas Comprehensive School, said he had not heard of any dangerous incidents on pupils’ journeys to school caused by phone use. He noted, however, that school staff do not see what happens on the way to school.

“Phones quickly appear in pupils’ hands at the end of the school day. I have no doubt that this affects their ability to pay attention to traffic,” Syrjäläinen said.

Hanne Lahtinen, principal of Rantakylä Comprehensive School, recently experienced a near miss when a young cyclist was concentrating on a phone instead of the traffic. She, too, said she had not heard of dangerous incidents during school journeys.

Adults set an example

Police will monitor traffic in built-up areas near schools during August. In recent years, for example, Eastern Finland Police have issued numerous traffic penalty fees and fines for speeding when schools have started.

Karvonen said browsing a phone while driving also affects adults’ ability to pay attention and is prohibited under the Road Traffic Act. Even talking through a speakerphone can be distracting.

Children learn traffic behaviour by following the example set by adults.