BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools programme will visit 30 schools across Latvia

26 % of cycling accidents involve underage cyclists – ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ programme will visit 30 schools across Latvia 

According to State Police data, 655 road traffic accidents involving bicycles have been recorded in Latvia so far this year up to the start of October, and 26 % of these involved underage cyclists. Furthermore, the number of accidents involving underage cyclists recorded this year has already exceeded the total number of such accidents recorded last year. To educate schoolchildren about safe cycling, help them anticipate dangerous situations on the road in good time and understand the importance of their bicycle’s technical condition, BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA), in collaboration with the State Police and the Police Cyclists Association, is organising the ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ project, visiting 30 schools across Latvia. Today, educational sessions will take place for pupils at Talsi Christian Secondary School, Talsi Primary School and Talsi Secondary School No. 2. 

Data from the State Police reveals that 176 road traffic accidents involving cyclists aged under 17 have already been recorded this year. This is more than in the whole of 2025, when the total number of such accidents reached 173. Furthermore, in 70 % of cases – or 124 instances – the underage cyclist sustained injuries. In contrast, accidents involving electric scooters across all age groups are down by half this year compared with last year – accidents involving underage riders have also decreased, and the number of young people injured does not exceed 23. 

“Our aim is not merely to remind young people of the traffic regulations, but to teach them to spot potential hazards in good time, assess the situation and make the safest decision. One of the most common mistakes young people make when travelling by bicycle or electric scooter is paying insufficient attention to their surroundings and relying too heavily on other road users to spot them in good time. Dangerous situations can arise, for example, by suddenly riding out onto the road, listening to music through headphones, failing to maintain a safe distance, or not adjusting one’s speed to the specific conditions. It is equally important to comply with the mandatory requirements – young people aged between 10 and 17 require a cycling licence to ride a bicycle unaided, whilst electric scooters may be ridden from the age of 14 provided the rider holds the appropriate licence and the scooter is registered with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (Latvian – CSDD). It should be noted that, up to the age of 17, it is compulsory to wear a fastened safety helmet when riding either of these vehicles,” emphasises Zintis Gailis, Chairman of the Board of the association ‘POLICISTU VELOBIEDRĪBA’. 

To educate children about cycling safely, the rules of the road and the technical condition of their bicycles, the ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ will visit 30 schools in 11 Latvian towns from 29 October to 26 November, delivering specially designed lessons. This project will focus not only on the risks associated with cycling and riding electric scooters in different seasons, but also on knowledge that pupils can apply in their daily lives, for example, how to spot potential hazards on the way to school, assess their own abilities and make the right decision before a dangerous situation arises. 

The sessions will also focus particularly on children’s and young people’s risk awareness, helping them to better understand everyday risks, their potential consequences and ways to avoid them. Using practical examples that children and young people can relate to – such as falling off a bicycle or an electric scooter – the sessions will explain how a single accident can affect both their own safety and health and that of those around them, as well as causing financial loss. The aim of the sessions is to help children and young people develop the ability to recognise risks, make informed decisions and act responsibly in various everyday situations. 

“By learning to cycle safely, young people simultaneously acquire a much broader skill – the ability to recognise risks and assess the possible consequences of their actions. Comprehensive safety means not only knowing how to avoid an accident but also understanding what to do if one does happen. That is why, in the ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ sessions, alongside road safety, we will also strengthen pupils’ understanding of risk and insurance, explaining how insurance works, what losses it can help to cover, and why it is important to think about one’s safety in good time. “We want young people to understand that safety is a set of interrelated decisions, not just a matter of following individual rules,” explains Evija Matveja, a member of the BTA Board. 

She adds that the ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ sessions will also provide practical knowledge on the technical maintenance of bicycles and e-scooters, covering the most important aspects to check to ensure that the vehicle is safe and reliable. 

Since 2024, the scale of the ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ project has tripled: previously, educational sessions were held in 10 schools, whereas this autumn it is planned to visit a total of 30 educational institutions. The first sessions are scheduled for today, 29 October, at Talsi Christian Secondary School, Talsi Primary School and Talsi Secondary School No. 2. The project team will then travel to Rēzekne, Gulbene, Dobele, Kuldīga, Sigulda, Jelgava, Limbaži, Jēkabpils, Daugavpils and Riga. 

This year, the implementation of the ‘BTA Cycling Patrol in Schools’ project is financially supported by ‘Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein’, the main shareholder of the ‘Vienna Insurance Group’ (VIG).