TWO children have been struck by cars in the space of two days in Montclair.
On Tuesday, 6 September, a high school pupil sustained moderate injuries when she was hit by a car on Blamey Road while going to school just after 7am.
She was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital by Rescue Care paramedics.Yesterday (Wednesday, 7 September) an eight-year-old child was also struck by a car on Radcliffe Road. The young girl, who was also on her way to school when the incident occurred just after 7am, sustained moderate injuries and was treated at the scene.
Such incidents send chills down a parent’s spine. Camille Gaillard confirmed that her biggest fear is her child being involved in an accident.”It’s a great fear, especially because we come across inconsiderate drivers every day. Many people, especially those who are given the responsibility to walk children to school, are not schooled in reading a traffic light. Many people think when the traffic light is green for the cars, it automatically means they too can proceed,” said Gaillard. She feels a lack of education leads to road accidents.
“Education needs to be provided across the board on when pedestrians should cross the road. Maybe sign boards educating them or road safety campaigns. Also, school children are often left at the school gates rather early, despite newsletters from schools being sent out clearly stipulating the time that gates are open.
However, I feel that provision should be made for parents who leave earlier than the norm. Maybe 15 minutes earlier with the supervision of the uniformed ‘lollipop’ man who escorts children in safely crossing the road,” she added.As a parent, she urges other parents to take it upon themselves to instill road safety in their children. “I for one can confirm that children are taught to look left and right and look again before crossing the road. Cross the road where the pedestrian crossing is available or where there is a stop street. These are things that we grew up learning and it needs to be instilled in our children and reaffirmed with our domestic workers every day,” said Gaillard.
Another mother and a member of the Montclair SAPS victim support centre said in the mornings the roads are far too busy with people rushing to work. “Children have a habit of running across the roads without looking left and right – they basically look left and run straight ahead. Parents need to educate their children about the rules of the road, as Mel Venter from SAPS Montclair says, road safety education starts at home,” she said.
Former ward councillor Billie Prinsloo said there have been initiatives where Metro Police visited the schools and educated children on pedestrian and traffic rules.
New ward 64 councillor Gavin Hegter questioned the lawlessness of society. “We can put as much signage and speed humps around the schools as we like but the problem is a lack of respect for the law by both motorists and pedestrians. We need to respect each other, understand we are not driving for ourselves, consider those around us. Pedestrians must learn the rules of the road and cross with caution. I wish the injured children a speedy recovery and I urge the community to take ownership of the area and look after each other,” he said.
Montclair SAPS communication officer, Cpt Dereck Vijiam urges schoolgoers to not walk on the roads but rather use the pavements. “Be more alert, know that roads are busy in the morning. Teachers and parents must educate the children. Montclair SAPS is organising a campaign on road safety and will be visiting the schools soon,” he said.
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