CALL ME BACKEvery year, 1.19 million people lose their lives on the world’s roads. More than half of these fatalities involve pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. Each life lost is one life too many.
The World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for road traffic victims, endorsed by the United Nations, is observed each November to acknowledge the victims of road traffic injuries and support their families.
In observance of WDoR, the Automobile Association (AA) and ChildSafe SA, along with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Tshwane Metro Police, and the South African Police Service (SAPS), held a candle-lighting ceremony and remembrance prayers for those who have lost their lives on the road. This event took place at St. Agnes Anglican Church in Mahube Valley, Tshwane. The ceremony aimed to honour the victims of road crashes, support their families, and promote education on road safety.
Tshwane emergency services conducted a crash scene simulation to demonstrate the extensive efforts required to rescue road crash victims. They showcased various techniques, including removing the windscreen, tearing open the doors and roof of the vehicle, extinguishing fires, and safely transporting victims into ambulances. The audience was reminded of the severe consequences of not adhering to road safety rules, emphasizing the importance of buckling up as a driver and ensuring that all passengers are securely restrained.
The WATCH Project is a joint initiative by the Automobile Association (AA) and ChildSafe South Africa aimed at improving road safety in Mamelodi, particularly around schools. It builds on previous projects, including a Ford Foundation-funded initiative in Mamelodi, an FIA Foundation-funded project in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, and another FIA Foundation-funded project supported by UNICEF in Delft and Belhar, also in Cape Town. This project is supported by the international road safety charity FIA Foundation and its Child Health Initiative (CHI), as well as being endorsed by the City of Tshwane, the Gauteng Department of Education, and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
The WATCH Project aims to enhance road infrastructure and promote road safety around ten schools in Mamelodi. This includes modifications to physical and passive traffic measures such as road safety signs, traffic markings, speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks in school zones. It is part of a broader initiative to implement similar modifications at other schools across South Africa over time, which will involve extensive lobbying by ChildSafe SA and the AA to reduce speed limits in school zones from the current 40 km/h to 30 km/h.
The WATCH Project in Mamelodi will be implemented over two years, from April 2024 to March 2026, to facilitate the rollout of engineering modifications. During this period, ChildSafe will conduct a star-rating assessment of the schools and provide road safety education.
The initiative aims to equip communities, parents, and schools with the necessary resources to reduce road fatalities and injuries among children.
