“See and Be Seen” - Your safety starts with YOU!

As the Western Cape enters its rainy winter season, we are calling on all road users to stay alert and prioritise visibility on the province’s roads. With fog, rain, and shorter daylight hours hampering visibility, the risk of crashes increases significantly on our province’s roads, placing drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists at greater risk.

Your safety starts with your visibility. Visibility is not just about lights or clothing, it is about everyone having a shared responsibility, and a commitment to safer roads. Whether walking, cycling or driving, visibility can mean the difference between life and death.

Our visibility campaign, under the theme “See and Be Seen”, highlights how reduced visibility during winter months directly contributes to increased risk of incidents. We urge all road users to act with extreme caution.

Tips for drivers:

• Ensure all lights, including headlights, brake lights, and indicators, are working.
• Keep windshields, mirrors, and windows clean and free from cracks.
• Reduce speed in poor visibility or wet road conditions.
• Reduce speed near schools, pedestrian crossings, malls and during early morning and evening hours.

Tips for pedestrians:

• Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially in the early morning or evening.
• Carry a light or use reflective bands when walking in low-light conditions.
• Avoid walking on busy roads when you have consumed alcohol or feel tired.
• Always assume motorists may not see you, even if you can see them.

Tips for cyclists:

• Always wear high-visibility or reflective gear, especially in dim or rainy conditions.
• Equip your bicycle with a white front light and red rear light and keep them switched on.
• Use reflective tape on your helmet, pedals, and frame to increase visibility from all angles.
• Obey all traffic signals and ride in single file.
• Avoid wearing dark clothing and ensure you can be seen from a distance, particularly in low-light conditions.

By working together and staying alert, we can prevent unnecessary injuries and save lives on our roads this winter.