A road safety awareness operation took place in Bertrange this weekend, with children temporarily taking on the role of police officers and handing out lemons and oranges to motorists.
The unusual speed check was carried out in Bertrange's shared space zone, where the speed limit is restricted to 20 km/h and where child safety remains a concern. Several pupils said they do not feel safe there because some drivers travel too fast or fail to stop.
To draw attention to the issue, the 14 members of the local children's council, known locally as the "Kannergemengerot", took part in an awareness campaign alongside the police. Officers showed the children how speed radar equipment works, allowing them to measure vehicle speeds themselves. The first speeding offences were detected shortly afterwards.
No fines were issued during the operation. Instead, motorists caught speeding were handed a lemon, while drivers respecting the speed limit received an orange.
Several motorists welcomed the initiative, saying it served as a useful reminder of the rules in a shared space, where pedestrians have priority. Some also saw it as a way of raising young people's awareness of speed, particularly when they themselves are cycling.
For the police, the aim of the initiative was twofold: to encourage drivers to behave more responsibly, while also helping children better understand vehicle speeds.
"If they notice that their parents are driving too fast, they can tell them", explained an inspector from the Esch traffic police unit.
Road safety is regularly discussed within the children's council, and further awareness campaigns could follow.
Under the rules governing shared spaces, pedestrians, including children, always have priority, even outside designated crossings.
