Focus on vulnerable road users | Western Cape Government

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Focus on vulnerable road users

5 February 2020

The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) protects vulnerable road users (cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, especially children and senior citizens) in a number of ways. We emphasise safety in the way we design provincial roads and road crossings. We support the development of cycling lanes in Western Cape municipalities. Provincial Traffic Services enforces the law. We also engage in a range of road safety education initiatives.

This week, Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works Bonginkosi Madikizela announced that there had been a 23% reduction in Western Cape road traffic fatalities during the festive season. “I am, however, seriously concerned about the high number of pedestrians who are dying on our roads,” he said. “In total, 74 pedestrians were killed on our roads between 1 December 2019 and 15 January 2020. Provincial Traffic Services arrested 19 drunk pedestrians,” he added.

DTPW targets children through scholar patrols, interactive road safety talks by our road safety mascot Danny Cat, junior traffic training centres (JTTCs), and “walking buses”. JTTCs are small-scale simulated road environments on school grounds where children can learn about road safety. Walking buses are groups of children walking to school under the supervision of a teacher.

Slow down near children, especially in areas where there are no pavements. Children may play in the street in areas where there are no safe recreational areas. They may misjudge how quickly vehicles are moving. Children are more likely to die in a crash because the impact is likely to be above the waist. Be patient with older people – they may walk more slowly than other pedestrians.

DTPW supports high school learners to become powerful advocates for road safety through their participation in the National Road Safety Debate Competition. We also support learners to develop locally appropriate road safety solutions through participating in the national Participatory Educational Techniques (PET) competition.

If you are a pedestrian, don’t drink and walk, cross the road in safe places, and never cross a road while wearing headphones or earphones. If you are a cyclist, stick to the rules of the road at all times, including riding in single file. If you are a motorcyclist, observe the speed limit and don’t drink and drive. If you are a motorist, look out for cyclists and motorcyclists and give them a wide berth when you pass.

#ShareTheRoad

DTPW road safety initiatives taking place in February

Date Time Type of Operation Focal Area Route / Location
03/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Swartberg Primary/ Caledon
03/02/2020 10:00 – 11:00 STEP Education B West Secondary School
03/02/2020 13:00 –14:30 STEP: Foundation & Intermediate Phase Education La plaisante Primary- Woseley
04/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Kosie De Wet/Villiersdorp
04-06 February 2020   Learners Licence to unemployed youths Driver Awareness Education Thusong Center : Paarl East
03-06/02/2020 08:00 – 13:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Oudtshoorn Area
03-06/02/2020 10:00 – 14:00 Learners Licence to unemployed youths Driver Awareness Education Lamberts Bay
05 February 2020 08:00-14:00 RTMC Learner Licence Young Driver Awareness: Booking & Eye Testing Phillipi Pakama High School
05/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Swartberg/ Caledon
06/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Lukhanyo/ Hermanus
06 February 2020 08:00-14:00 RTMC Learner Licence Young Driver Awareness: RTMC Learner License Booking & Eye Testing Belhar Belhar High School
03-07/02/2020 09h:00-13:00 Scholar Patrol Registration, Monitoring & Training and distribution of scholar patrol equipment Langeberg Schools
07/02/2020 06:30 – 08:30 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Pamphleteering /Safe Places to Cross N2 George/ Between Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp
10/02/20 7:00-9:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment

Paarlzicht Primary
Drakenstein

10/02/20 13:00-14:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Newton Primary Drakenstein
10-12/02/2020 09:00 – 13:00 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Painting of JTTC Plettenberg Bay
10/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Bredasdorp
10/02/2020 07:30 – 09:00 Road safety Talk, STEP Awareness B West Primary School
10-14/02/2020 09:00-13:00 Scholar Patrol Registration, Monitoring & Training and distribution of scholar patrol equipment Breede Valley Schools
11/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Bontebok/Swellendam
11/02/20 7:00-9:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Orleans vale Primary Drakenstein
11/02/20 13:00-14:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Paarl Boys Primary Drakenstein
12/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment BF Oosthuizen / Barrydale
13/02/2020 12:30 – 13:30 STEP Education Zwartberg High
13/02/2020 07:00-08:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Umyezo Wama Apile
12/02/20 07:00-09:00 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Pedestrian Awareness with Law Enforcement Khayelitsha N2 / Mew Way
12/02/20 7:00-9:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment H.M.S. La Rochelle Drakenstein
12/02/20 13:00-14:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Laerskool Gymnasium Drakenstein
13/02/20 7:00-9:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Laerskool Noord-eind Drakenstein
13/02/20 13:00-14:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Laerskool  WA Joubert Drakenstein
13/02/2020 11:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment Impendulo primary Khayelitsha
14/02/2020 06:30 – 08:30 Pedestrian Awareness Pamphleteering and interacting with pedestrians /Safe Places to Cross N2 George/ Between Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp
17-20/02/2020 08:00 – 13:00 Scholar Patrol Scholar Patrol Audit and Training Mossel Bay Area
17/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment VRT Pitt
17/02/2020 10:00 – 11:00 Pedestrian Safety Awareness School road safety talk and road usage demonstration Baartmansfontein – L/Brg
17/02/2020 12:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment Eluxolweni primary Khayelitsha
17/02/2020 12:00 – 13:00 School visit Road safety talk Buffelsrivier Pri School
04-06 February 2020   Learners Licence to unemployed youths Driver Awareness Education Bella Vista E- Center
17-20/02/2020 12:00-14:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment Malmesbury schools
17-20/02/2020 15:00-17:00 Learners licence classes to high school learners Driver Awareness Education Malmesbury
18/02/2020 12:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment I primary Khayelitsha
19/02/2020 14:00-15:30 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment The Glebe
19-21/02/2020 09:00-13:00 Learners licence classes to high school learners Learners Licence Cloetesville
20 February 2020 09:00-13:00 Junior Traffic Training Center Launch Simon’s Town School
21/02/2020 06:30 – 08:30 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Pamphleteering and interacting with pedestrians about Safe Places to Cross N2 George/ Between Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp
21/02/2020 08:30 – 09:30 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Road safety talk Leeu Gamka Clinic
24-25/02/2020 08:00 – 13:00 Scholar Patrol Monitoring, Training of new and old learners & distribution of Scholar Patrol Equipment Knysna and Plettenberg Bay Area
24-26/02/2020 12:00-14:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment Vredenburg Schools
24-26/02/2020 15:00-17:00 Learners licence classes to high school learners Driver Awareness Education Malmesbury
24-28 February 2020 10:00-15:00 STEP Education Intervention Schools in Metro East/North/south and Central
25-28/01/2020 09:00-14:00 Education intervention STEP Stellenbosch Schools
25/02/2020 07:00-12:00 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Pamphleteering, interacting with pedestrians and distribute Reflective bands for visibility Grabouw
27/02/20 10:00-14:00 Driver Awareness Addressing Young Drivers sharing road safety Information University of Western Cape
27/02/20 09:00 Junior Traffic Training Centre Launch Simondium Primary
27/02/20 09:00-12:00 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Pamphleteering, interacting with pedestrians Swellendam
27/02/20 08:00 – 14:00 Junior Traffic Training Centre Painting Pedestrian safety awareness Steynville Primary School, Piketberg
28/02/2020 06:30 – 08:30 Pedestrian Safety Awareness Pamphleteering, interacting with pedestrians /Safe Places to Cross N2 George/ Between Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp
28/02/2020 12:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment Lwandle primary Khayelitsha
28/02/2020 09:00 Scholar Patrol Training of members & distribution of scholar patrol equipment Impendulo primary Khayelitsha
Media Enquiries: 

Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za