Premier Alan Winde and Transport and Public Works Minister, Daylin Mitchell, today officially launched October Transport Month by establishing a Junior Traffic Training Centre (JTTC)at Belhar Primary School.

October Transport Month was launched by government in 2005 as a call to action for members of the public to use public transport in order to address the challenges of traffic congestion on our roads.

During this month, the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works will observe and advance road safety initiatives, showcase transport infrastructure services and create awareness across the province of transport related issues.

In many developing areas such as Belhar, most children are pedestrians who walk to school or use public transport. This significantly increases their exposure to traffic hazards. There’s a huge need to educate children about road safety.

JTTCs are simulated road environments where children in the age group 7 to 10 years can learn how to use roads safely and responsibly without being exposed to real life-threatening traffic hazards. The training will focus on basic lessons about crossing a road safely, walking on the correct side of the road, and other basic road safety skills. 

Belhar Primary School is surrounded by busy roads such as Old Stellenbosch Road and Erica Drive. According to Forensic Pathology statistics, 51 pedestrians were killed in the Belhar, Delft and Ravensmead areas from October 2019 until June 2021.  This means approximately 3 people are killed in this area every month or one person is killed every ten days.

JTTCs are a programme implemented by the Directorate: Road Safety Management (RSM) on behalf of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). It is aimed at teaching primary school learners about safe mobility in traffic and imparting road safety education in a play-environment, without exposing learners to the dangers of real traffic situations.

Road markings are painted on cement or tarmac slabs at schools and road signs are supplied. Learners are taught about the rules of the road and the meanings of different signs.

Schools can make a request for a JTTC or a traffic authority can recommend the establishment of it. It can be set up at a school or in a community where a large enough concrete or tarmac slab is to be found.

RSM supplies the paint, brushes, mini road signs and other equipment needed once a request for the establishment of a JTTC has been approved.

Safety in Traffic Education Programme (STEP), a programme implemented in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) was designed in alignment with the Life Orientation educators’ work schedule and the learners’ workbooks within the school curriculum. The main objective of the Safety in Traffic Education Programme is to integrate road safety education into the curriculum of mainstream schools.

Minister Mitchell said: “I am concerned with the high number of pedestrians that are killed on our roads. Our main drive for this kind of an intervention is the ongoing road accident statistics which shows young pedestrians as the most critical road user group involved within the province. It is against this background that the RTMC together with WCED and my Department introduced integration of road safety within the curriculum through integration workshops for educators in the province. Often young pedestrians are left alone by adults to attempt to cross busy and dangerous roads on their own. Parents and caregivers in many cases over-estimate the capabilities of learners. Young pedestrians are very vulnerable to road crashes if left unattended in traffic.”

“It is critical to educate young children about road safety as they contribute to the high number of pedestrian fatalities that are recorded every week. The JTTC programme is for every school in the province, but the main focus is given to low- and middle-income groups where most of these injuries and fatalities occur and are located in and around pedestrian hazardous locations,” said Minister Mitchell.

The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said: “The Western Cape Government is committed to ensuring that each person in our province can enjoy a safe commute, whether walking, cycling, using public transport, or driving. It was a privilege to join Minister Mitchell today for the Junior Traffic Centre Launch at Belhar Primary, where we focused on pedestrian safety – particularly of our learners. As we commemorate transport month this October, let us continue to be mindful on our roads at all times, whether we are the driver or the pedestrian.”