My main focus during October Transport Month is raising awareness and continuing with interventions to promote safe and responsible road user behaviour, with an added focus on pedestrian behaviour, to help reduce the staggering number of pedestrian fatalities. I want our roads to be safer in the Western Cape than anywhere else in the country.    

The ongoing road accident statistics, which show most vulnerable pedestrians as the most critical road user group, are seriously concerning.

In the week 26 September to 2 October 2022, a total of 13 pedestrians were killed on our roads. That means half of last week’s fatalities comprised pedestrians. I urge motorists to watch out for child pedestrians in particular and slow down when you see them. Young children cannot tell how quickly a vehicle is moving towards them.

Children may walk into the road when it is unsafe or run after a ball or a dog without looking at the traffic. A child pedestrian is much more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash. This is because children are shorter than grown-ups, which means they are more likely to be hit in the head and chest.

Protecting child pedestrians depends on drivers being able to see them. Make sure that your children are visible whenever they walk near roads. They should wear light-coloured clothing, or reflective clothing, and should not be near roads at night or when visibility is poor.

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services implemented a total of 297 integrated roadblocks, vehicle check point and speed control operations across the province in the week under review, and 35 963 vehicles were stopped and checked. A total of 10 483 fines were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness.

A total of 189 speeding offences were recorded. The highest speeds recorded in the week were as follows:

• 162 km/h in a 120 km/h zone
• 144 km/h in a 100 km/h zone
• 114 km/h in a 90 km/h zone
• 124 km/h in an 80 km/h zone
• 104 km/h in a 60 km/h zone

Nine vehicles were impounded and 131 were discontinued due to unroadworthiness.

A total of 104 arrests were made under the National Road Traffic Act and Criminal Procedure Act for the following offences:

• 85 x driving under the influence of alcohol.
• 1 x speeding.
• 5 x reckless and negligent driving.
• 2 x goods overloading.
• 5 x possession of fraudulent documentation.
• 2 x inducing an authorised officer or peace officer to act in conflict with his/her duty.
• 1 x possession of abalone.
• 1 x possession of stolen trailer.
• 1 x threatening/suggesting use of violence, injuries damage to property of traffic officer's relatives or the traffic officer or the traffic officer’s property.
• 1 x failing to comply with a lawful order from an authorised officer.

Fatalities recorded between 26 September to 2 October 2022

A total of 22 crashes occurred in the reporting period, and 26 fatalities were recorded:

• 4 x drivers.
• 2 x cyclists.
• 2 x motorcyclists.
• 5 x passengers.
• 13 x pedestrians.

Buckle up children and watch out for child pedestrians

Always buckle up yourself and children, even on the shortest trip. Slow down wherever there are child pedestrians, they are more vulnerable than you might think.

Drivers are responsible for ensuring that all passengers are buckled up. Adults are responsible for buckling up themselves and children. All small children must be secured in an age-appropriate harness. In a crash, a child who is not secured in an age-appropriate harness becomes a projectile inside the vehicle that can crash into hard surfaces and into other people inside the vehicle, possibly leading to serious injuries and death. In a crash, a child who is not secured in an age-appropriate harness is more likely to be ejected from the vehicle and die or be seriously injured. A serious injury can be life-changing – it may leave a child with a temporary or permanent disability.

A child car seat must be securely fastened so that it does not move around. If you are using a front-facing child seat, the harness slots must be at or above the child’s shoulders. If you are using a rear-facing child seat, use harness slots positioned at or below the child’s shoulders. The correct position for the chest clip is at armpit level. Make sure there is no slack when you pinch the strap at the child’s shoulders. The lap belt should lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.

Children will follow the example set by their parents, teachers and other adults. Set a good example for children to follow. Model good road safety behaviour for them to follow, such as always buckling up, only crossing the road in safe places, never speeding, and never drinking and driving.

If you drive a public transport vehicle, be extra careful throughout your journey. Watch out for children. Make sure your vehicle is roadworthy and that your operating licence is in order.

#SaveKidsLives #BuckleUp #SeatbeltsSaveLives.

Media Queries:           

Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka

Spokesperson for Minister Daylin Mitchell

Cell: 082 953 0026

Email: Ntomboxolo.Makoba-Somdaka@westerncape.gov.za