Our Goal is Safe Roads for all

On 8 August 2014, the Department of Transport and Public Works partnered with the City of Cape Town to teach road safety to Grade 1, 2 and 3 learners from Watsonia Primary School in Kraaifontein. The event formed part of the Long Short Walk, a global road safety awareness campaign.

Traffic officials explained basic road safety tips to learners and the Department’s Road Safety Management component handed out promotional items. Wearing reflective sashes, the group of learners and their teachers walked on the pavement to the 4-way stop street where they were taught how to cross safely. A demonstration was then conducted on the pedestrian crossing in front of the school to teach learners how to use it effectively.

Jaywalking is generally a problem. Nokuzola Letselebe of Road Safety Management said hundreds of learners cross the 4-way stop street daily on their way to school.

“They don’t always know how to use it safely, thus putting their lives at risk by jaywalking. There have been no recent incidents of learners being knocked over, but together with the City of Cape Town, we want this road to be safe for all,” she said.

School Safety Coordinator Yolanda Hansby said this intervention is important because it educates learners on how to cross roads safely, to listen and to respond to the actions of oncoming motorists.

“These inventions assist the school to make a difference by potentially saving lives,” she added.