The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) took its scholar patrol audit, training and refresher interventions into Western Cape primary schools shortly after schools reopened in January 2022.
Road safety officers began their scholar patrol activities at Watsonia Primary School in Kraaifontein on 18 January, and went on to New Dawn Park Primary School in George on 21 and 24 January. DTPW will also be assisting scholar patrols at False Bay, Silukhanyiso, and Hazendal Primary Schools before the end of the month.
Instilling good road safety habits at an early age helps to provide a lifetime of protection from the dangers of the road. Scholar patrols regulate traffic, slow down vehicles where children are crossing, and facilitate safe crossing. In addition, they instil an awareness among young pedestrians of the importance of road safety.
DTPW works in partnership with local authority traffic departments to give effect to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) national scholar patrol project. The RTMC supports provinces with equipment and uniforms if there is a shortage. RTMC staff also visit participating schools to check that the scholar patrols operate according to prescripts and that the necessary documents are on file.
Lulamile Lakata was one of the DTPW road safety officers who performed the scholar patrol training and auditing interventions at New Dawn Park Primary. “The training was excellent. The teachers and learners were very excited,” he said.
Once his audit was complete, Lulamile highlighted the Department’s role in providing input into municipalities’ decisions on the installation of road signs and pedestrian crossings.
Further information on the scholar patrol programme is available from:
Jennifer Solomons
Email: Jennifer.Solomons@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 6975.