DEKRA Children's Cap Campaign 2025

Visibility ensures safety in traffic 

• Signal colors and retro-reflective elements ensure visibility 
• Education about the most important rules of conduct in road traffic 
• Reached around 3.75 million children in Germany since 2004 

 

Being clearly visible in road traffic offers a decisive safety advantage. That is why the international expert organization DEKRA is continuing its long-standing “Safety needs brains” campaign in 2025. The bright red caps with retro-reflective elements distributed as part of the campaign ensure greater visibility and safety. Since the campaign was launched more than 20 years ago, around 3.75 million caps have been distributed in Germany alone, often in cooperation with local traffic safety organizations and other local partners. This year, the campaign is once again expected to reach hundreds of thousands of children.

 

“Starting school is a milestone for every child. It marks the beginning of a whole new phase of life. This brings new experiences, but also some new challenges: many children are now traveling alone in traffic for the first time on their way to school,” says Guido Kutschera, Executive Vice President responsible for DEKRA’s business in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. “Because they still have little experience in this environment and because they are unprotected road users, children in this situation need support and consideration from the rest of us. Of course, it helps if the children are clearly visible.” 

This is where the DEKRA children's cap campaign has been coming in since 2004. The caps, in a bright red color, also feature retro-reflective elements, ensuring that children are visible in all lighting conditions. The distribution campaign is combined with education for children and parents on the topic of “safe routes to school.” 

“DEKRA has been committed to road safety for 100 years. With our ‘Safety needs brains’ campaign, we are specifically committed to the safety of the most vulnerable group on the road,” says Kutschera. “As always, this is accompanied by an appeal to all other road users to be particularly careful and considerate when driving, especially at the start of the school year.” “ 

In addition to DEKRA caps, the DEKRA managing director advises all parents to make sure their children's clothing, shoes, and school bags feature high-contrast colors and retro-reflective elements: “This makes children more visible to other road users, especially at dusk or in the dark—the times when most pedestrian accidents occur.” “ 

Tips for children and parents on how to get to school safely are provided in the accompanying brochure for the campaign. It is available free of charge at DEKRA branches and can be downloaded online at www.dekra.de/kinderkappen. The brochure also contains information on how to behave correctly on the school bus. 

 

 

About DEKRA 

DEKRA has stood for safety for 100 years. Founded in 1925 with the original goal of ensuring road safety through vehicle inspections, DEKRA has developed into the world's largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Today, the company acts as a global partner, supporting its customers with comprehensive services and solutions to further advance safety and sustainability – in line with DEKRA's anniversary motto, “Securing the Future.” In 2024, DEKRA generated sales of 4.3 billion euros. Around 48,000 employees in approximately 60 countries on five continents provide qualified and independent expert services. With its Platinum rating from EcoVadis, DEKRA ranks among the top 1 percent of the most sustainable companies worldwide.