Four organisations took a significant step towards improving road safety in Mamelodi, through the launch of the Walking Safely to School (WATCH) project.
The Automobile Association (AA) and ChildSafe South Africa, international road safety charity the FIA Foundation and its Child Health Initiative (CHI) all joined forces to make this project happen.
The project is further being supported and endorsed by the Tshwane metro and the Gauteng Departments of Education and Community Safety.
The official launch was held at Mamelodi Secondary School on Thursday.
Parents, learners and the broader community promised their support for the project.
Layton Beard from the AA said the WATCH project aims to improve road infrastructure and promote road safety around 10 schools in Mamelodi.
He said these include modifications to physical and passive traffic measures such as road safety traffic signs, traffic markings, speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks around school zones.
“The project is part of a bigger initiative to implement similar modifications at other schools across South Africa over time.
It will include extensive lobbying by ChildSafe SA and the AA to reduce the speed limit at school zones throughout South Africa from the current 40km/h to 30km/h,” said Beard.
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), children constitute 10.2% of road fatalities in South Africa and 7% of road fatalities in Gauteng.
In support of the project, Tshwane conducted school zone road safety assessments at the selected schools.
The recommendations of the audit informed the environmental modifications that will be implemented at each.
The 10 schools are Dr IM Monare, Bohlabatsatsi, Pula Difate, Meetse-A-Bophelo, Mahube Valley, Ramahlale, Zamintuthuko and Bula-Dikgoro primary schools, Tsako-Thabo Secondary School and Mamelodi High School.
Child Safe executive director and spokesperson, Zaitoon Rabaney said: “We continue to advocate for the 30km/h speed restriction around schools as well as environmental modifications that influence driver behaviour to adhere to slower speeds in school areas.
Equipping our children and their families with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate roads safely is paramount.”
Rabaney plans to do this through educational programmes, campaigns, and targeted outreach efforts.
“We can foster a lasting positive impact on the safety culture on our roads, especially around schools, focused on protecting our most vulnerable road users – children,” she said.
“Research shows that a pedestrian who is struck by a motor vehicle travelling between 50 and 70km/h has a more than 80% chance of being killed. Survivors are often subject to serious injuries that result in physical and mental disability, often due to traumatic head injuries.”
The WATCH project in Mamelodi will be implemented over the next two years to allow for the rollout of the engineering modifications.
The initiative will ensure that communities, parents, and schools will have enough capacity to reduce road fatalities and injuries among children.
Saul Billingsley, executive director of the FIA Foundation said the WATCH project showcases the importance of partnerships across public, private, and civil organisations to address the leading global cause of child injury and death.
“These infrastructure assessments and improvements focus on separating children from traffic and slowing road speeds.
Every child deserves an education, and to arrive at school safely,” said Billingsley.
Frank Lambert, chief engineer of Tshwane’s Roads And Transport Department and Transportation Planning said the metro welcomes the collaboration with ChildSafe South Africa and the introduction of traffic calming measures as well as environmental modifications around schools in Mamelodi.
He said these interventions support the city in advancing and achieving its objectives towards creating safer schools with a specific focus on road safety and securing the safety of scholar pedestrians.
Sikkie Kajee, chairman of AA South Africa said this was an important initiative that will ensure improved pedestrian safety for learners at the 10 schools.
“Importantly, the collaboration of all the role-players is an example of what can be achieved when everyone pulls in the same direction for the benefit of learners and road safety.
“We are excited about the outcomes of the WATCH project and would like to see it replicated throughout the country. That will be our goal after this project is finalised.”
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