We are working hard to raise awareness of pedestrian visibility by visiting various taxi ranks throughout Gauteng to inform commuters of the importance of being visible, and by distributing high-visibility sashes. The #ISeeYou project has been running since 2019 and is an initiative of the AA in partnership with FIA Region 1.
Pedestrian safety is everyone’s responsibility, including motorists, those on motor cycles in fact, every road user. In South Africa, approximately 40% of all those killed on the country’s roads annually are pedestrians.
Being visible on the road is crucial to ensure pedestrian safety. High visibility clothing or other items are a good way to stand out, especially when light is fading such as in early mornings or late afternoons. Motorists should also play their role by focusing only the road they are driving on, and not on anything else such as electronic devices, or other passengers.
f you would like to play your part in making pedestrians more visible, please visit us at one of the venues above, or consider sponsoring high-visibility sashes for employees in your company, or for a school in your area. Remember, your contribution could save a life.
Other safety tips for pedestrian safety include:
For motorists
- Focus on the road, and drive to the conditions of the road
- Don’t use electronic devices while driving
- Do not do other activities such as apply make-up, eat, put on a tie, or engage with passengers in the back seat
- Obey the rules of the road, be courteous to other road users – including pedestrians – and buckle-up
- Do not use a navigation system while driving. Stop, select a destination, then drive on
- Be aware of pedestrians on the road, especially in dimly lit areas. If the light is fading switch on your headlights
- Reduce your speed near schools or pedestrian crossings
- Be aware of other road users around you, including pedestrians, other vehicles, and cyclists, and people using motor bikes
Remember that you share the road, it does not belong you and other motorists only.
For pedestrians
- Avoid wearing all dark clothing if you can
- Wear clothing which is bright and carry something reflective such as high visibility reflective sash
- Teach children safe behaviour for walking on the road and, as with motorists, set a good example
- Teach children what different road signs and road markings mean – there are many free resources available
- Only cross a road when it is safe to do so
- Avoid crossing high traffic roads
- Always use a bridge to cross a road, even if it means walking a little further to reach it
- Tell your local municipality about streetlights that don’t work. Most municipalities are on social media and this is a good way of alerting them to problems
- When getting out of busses or taxis, always walk behind the bus or taxi, not in front. Walking in front prevents you from seeing oncoming traffic
- Always walk on a sidewalk if one is available
- Don’t drink and walk or use drugs or medication and walk. It’s just as dangerous as drinking and driving or using drugs or medication and driving
- Always check for traffic, even if traffic lights say it’s safe to walk
- Don’t use electronic devices while you walk. Never use earphones when you walk; hearing traffic is essential to staying safe
Reducing South Africa’s high annual road death statistics is everyone’s responsibility. Play your part.
During the next week we will be visiting the following taxi ranks from 06h00 – 09h00 in the morning, and again be 14h00 and 19h00 in the afternoons
Bree Street, Friday, 30 July
Thembisa, Saturday, 31 July
Mamelodi Station, Monday, 2 August
Pretoria Bloed Street, Tuesday, 3 August
Randburg, Wednesday, 4 August
Germiston, Thursday, 5 August.
If you would like to play your part in making pedestrians more visible, please visit us at one of the venues above, or consider sponsoring high-visibility sashes for employees in your company, or for a school in your area. Remember, your contribution could save a life.
