Written by Mbali Dhlamini
As part of Transport month, we’re sharing tips on how to keep little ones safe on the roads.
According to statistics available from the Road Traffic Management Corporation, children accounted for 34% of all fatalities caused by road accidents in 2020.
This means that 672 children in the age group of 0-9 years died while being passengers in vehicles during that year.
This brings to light the important role that all road users have to play in ensuring that children are transported safely.
Let’s work together as a society to reduce the number of child fatalities on the roads.
Here are 10 helpful tips we can all use to ensure that our little ones make it to their destinations safely:
- Make sure that you use a certified car seat that takes into consideration your child’s height and weight
- When you put the child into the vehicle always ensure that they are buckled up securely before embarking on the journey
- Teach children not to play in and around parking lots and other parked vehicles. This is to avoid cars reversing and moving without noticing that there are children at play
- Teach children safe street crossing guidelines
- Teach children to obey the instructions of scholar transport patrollers and monitors at school and other play areas
- As a driver or parent always ensure that you keep to the speed limit and rules of the road in order to avoid putting the lives of others at risk
- Avoid distractions while driving and find ways to keep the child entertained either through games, books, music, etc. so that you are focused on the road at all times
- Teach your child to take special care when getting on or off all public transport
- Hold children’s hands or make sure they stay next to you while waiting to embark on scholar transport
- Lead by example as a parent or guardian. Children are more likely to practice good road safety behaviour if they see you doing it as well!
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