Wheel Well strengthen Children’s Road Safety with reflective beanies

Wheel Well, a registered organisation, partnered with the multinational auto manufacturer company, Renault South Africa, to donate beanies knitting materials to the Alex Men’s Forum on August 6.

Men’s Forum will oversee the distribution of materials to Alex women who offered their help by knitting reflective beanies, which will be donated to township children.

Beanies will be knitted with neon reflective fabric, which reflects light back when illuminated, especially by vehicles or flashing lights.

According to Wheel Well founder Peggie Mars, the beanies will safeguard kids in busy, dangerous traffic.

“The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, most pedestrians are children, and the most vulnerable children are the young children of the poor,” Mars said.

Children’s Road Safety is one of Wheel Well’s goals. The organisation educates people about the critical issues, promotes educational initiatives, and strengthens legal protection related to children’s toad safety.

Reflective fabric on beanies is effective against the light from 150m. “Schoolchildren often have to wear very dark uniforms as they make their way to and from school.

“Whether they are walking, cycling, or just crossing the road or being dropped off in a vehicle, it can be hard to see our darkly clad children, especially, on dark winter mornings and again when daylight is fading,” Mars added.

The Alex Men’s Forum chairperson Charles Mphephu said he was grateful for the donations, and the forum is now receiving more donations after President Cyril Ramaphosa eased the Covid regulations.

Aviwe Rasmeni, marketing and communication intern at Renault South Africa, said the beanies will make children visible in traffic because of their reflective fabric.

“Because of their small stature, it can be difficult for children to see surrounding traffic and for drivers and others to see them, but with the beanies, I believe they will be more visible.”