Non-governmental organisation Wheel Well and online insurer dotsure.co.za have teamed up to host a series of educational school talks for 2016.
Ms Colleen Wentzel, spokesperson for dotsure, said the main objective of these talks is to ensure that families are able to comply with the new legislation.
In terms of Amendment 22 to the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, the driver of the vehicle will be guilty of a criminal offence if any occupants are unrestrained where the vehicle is equipped with seat belts or car safety seats. Ms Wentzel said these educational talks will be held at various primary schools, in line with dotsure.co.za’s Car Seat Safety Cause, which was launched in September 2015 during Child Passenger Safety Week.
Ms Wentzel said the law now also states that every child under the age of three must be strapped in an appropriate car seat or booster seat to help prevent serious injury in the event of a collision.
On February 24, dotsure.co.za held an educational talk at Eastleigh Primary School where its representatives addressed more than 400 foundation-phase pupils. Ms Wentzel communicated the dangers of not buckling up. Pupils also had the opportunity to hear about 24-year-old Ms Nicole Melck, who is not only a car crash survivor but also an ambassador for dotsure.co.za. “Ms Melck was 12 years old when the vehicle her family was travelling in was involved in a head-on collision. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident,” said Ms Wentzel.
Mr David Roache of dotsure.co.za said not wearing a seat belt contributes to the high mortality and injury rate of children on South Africa’s roads. “We believe that these figures can be reduced by half if the correct child safety seat is always used. The leading cause of injury-related deaths among children under five is not being secured in the appropriate child safety seat while on the road,” said Mr Roache.
He said that as a company that is in the car insurance industry, this cause is very close to its heart. “We have heard some stories of avoidable injury and loss of life and we want to help prevent more incidents wherever possible,” said Mr Roache.
Ms Peggie Mars of Wheel Well said, “Just taking a few minutes before you set off on your car journey, to properly strap your child can mean the difference between life and death or severe and debilitating injury for your child.”
Ms Wentzel shared the following car safety tips for children:
r Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip.
r Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat. The back seat is generally the safest place for a child.
r While airbags can save lives, children riding in the front seat can be seriously injured or killed when an airbag deploys during a crash.
r Never put a rear-facing child in a front seat with an active frontal airbag.
r Choose the right child safety seat or safety belt for your child’s size and age.
r Instal and use your child safety seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
r Ensure your child safety seat has not been involved in an accident.
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