Road safety initiative for children launched in Gauteng

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has partnered with Santam on an initiative to reduce the high proportion of children who lose their lives in road-related incidents.

Santam Head of Market Development, Neptal Khoza, said they have identified a need to roll out scholar patrol projects in townships where many children walk or commute to school without adult supervision and often need to cross dangerous, multi-lane roads.

The scholar patrol initiative will be set up in at 10 schools in the Sedibeng District Municipality in Gauteng.

Safety patrollers on duty will be trained effectively, given the appropriate uniform and equipment, including umbrellas and rain ponchos during the rainy season.

Patrollers will also receive certificates of recognition for their participation. The initiative will provide much-needed temporary employment opportunities for the surrounding communities.

Post-matric, unemployed youth will be recruited as patrollers in a bid to contribute towards the government’s objective to provide an avenue for labour absorption and income transfers to poor households in the short- to medium-term.

“The project has the potential to prepare youth for future careers in road safety, traffic police and general law enforcement. This project is one of many initiatives that we will plug into the existing community enhancement structures in achieving our broader goal of building communities that are more resilient. We foresee that learners, as well as their families and communities, will benefit immensely form this service.

“We call on other corporate and private sector entities to join us in partnering with the public sector in ways that can benefit greater society and ultimately provide existing initiatives with the boost they need to reach their full potential,” Khoza said on Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Status Report on Road Safety of 2023 cites that road traffic injuries remains the leading cause of death for children.

“Pedestrian safety remains the most significant road safety challenge in South Africa. Our records as the RTMC indicate that on average 10.2% of pedestrian fatalities are of the 0 to 14 age brackets. For the past three years, 47% of fatal crashes involved pedestrians, with Gauteng as one of the main contributors to the high pedestrian fatality rate.

“Funding for road safety remains a challenge for the RTMC. There has been continuous effort to engage the private sector for collaboration on the implementation of road safety initiatives. The school intervention by Santam in the road safety programme will go a long way in creating safer communities and save more lives,” said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane.

ChildSafe spokesperson and Executive Director, Zaitoon Rabaney, said they will continue to advocate for the 30 km/h speed restriction around schools, as well as environmental modifications that influence driver behaviour to adhere to slower speeds in school areas.

“Equipping our children and their families with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate roads safely is paramount. Through educational programmes, campaigns and targeted outreach efforts, such as the scholar patrol initiative, we can foster a lasting positive impact on the safety culture on our roads, especially around schools.

“These alarming statistics, however, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures, particularly those focused on protecting our most vulnerable road users – children,” Rabaney said. – SAnews.gov.za