As one of the busiest times of the year – the Easter weekend – approaches, the Department of Transport and Public Works Directorate: Road Safety Management (RSM) will be conducting intensive driver, passenger, and pedestrian awareness interventions to highlight the importance of road safety.
These interventions aim to reduce the number of road crashes and deaths, and to promote safe road user behaviour in the Western Cape this Easter.
The messages that will be conveyed are: the importance of wearing seatbelts for both drivers and passengers; the importance of sticking to speed limit; the dangers of drinking and walking; the dangers of drinking and driving; the dangers of being distracted by electronic gadgets while walking or driving; the importance of safe walking and safe crossing of roads; the dangers of jaywalking; and the importance of pedestrian visibility.
Some interventions will be integrated with provincial and local traffic law enforcement interventions. The integrated interventions will mostly focus on public transport drivers and passengers. These interventions will try to educate drivers on responsible and safe ways of driving and to encourage passengers to report reckless and dangerous driving.
Acting Director of Road Safety Management Nina September says that the youth will be prioritised as far as road safety education concern is concerned. In South Africa and across the world, young people between the ages of 5 and 29 years old are the most vulnerable road users and road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in this age group.