FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHILDSAFE SOUTH AFRICA CALLS FOR DRIVERS TO MODIFY THEIR DRIVING BEHAVIOUR AHEAD OF THE EASTER WEEKEND
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – In anticipation of the upcoming Easter long weekend and return travel after the school holidays, ChildSafe South Africa, an injury prevention focused not for profit, makes an urgent call for driver behaviour modification to reduce preventable road injuries and fatalities among children ahead of the long weekend and Easter School Holidays.
With a significant spike in road travel expected during this period, Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikungala last week launched the National Road Safety Campaign #FikaUsaphila at an event in Mpumalanga. In response, ChildSafe South Africa further calls for driver behaviour modification and seeks to promote safer road practices among all drivers, emphasising the protection of our most vulnerable passengers – children.
Recent Statistics Raise Alarm
This follows the latest findings from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) reveal a concerning trend: 12,436 South Africans, including a staggering 10.2% of children aged 0 to 14 years, lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents in 2022 alone. This data underscores the pressing need for immediate action to safeguard our communities from further tragedy.
Spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation, Simon Zwane, says” The RTMC calls for greater cooperation from motorists to reduce the number of children who are injured or killed on the roads.” We believe that a small investment in child seats and restraints can go a long way in saving our children’s lives.
Seatbelts are a legal requirement.
South African regulations state that (a) all adults must use seat belts if available; (b) the driver must ensure a child aged between three to 14 uses a child restraint, if available, or seat belt if available; and (c) infants under three must be strapped into a car seat where possible. Drivers may be held accountable for failure to comply.
Consequences of not buckling up
The World Health Organisation Road Traffic Injury fact sheet 2022 shows the use of a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 40 – 50% for drivers and front-seat occupants, and by up to 25% for rear-seat occupants. According to the African Brain Child’s report, 96 out of every 100 children who are admitted to ICU because they were involved in a motor crash have a moderate or severe injury to the head because they were not wearing a seat belt.
Associate Professor Ursula Rolhwink of the UCT Neuroscience Institute and spokesperson for the African Brain Child Initiative says – “We know that seatbelts save children’s lives, because every day we see children who are severely disabled or who die due to road accidents because they were not wearing a seatbelt. Children who are not properly restrained in a car are catapulted out of the car on impact, and the consequences can be devastating, nothing but a seatbelt/car seat can prevent that. Making sure a child is properly restrained is the easiest thing parents can do to ensure their child’s safety. Please #BeQuickToClick”
Key Objectives for Driver Behaviour Modification
ChildSafe South Africa encourages driver behaviour modification with specific focus on the following critical areas:
Seatbelt Use: Ensuring all passengers, especially children, are properly restrained at all times.
Speed Compliance: Advocating for adherence to speed limits and driving conditions.
Increased Awareness of Child Safety: Educating drivers on the importance of using age-appropriate car seats and the dire consequences of neglecting these practices.
Zaitoon Rabaney, Executive Director and Spokesperson for ChildSafe South Africa, Stresses the Urgency – “The number of lives lost on our roads, particularly among children, is unacceptable and preventable,” stated Zaitoon Rabaney. “This Easter, we urge drivers to reflect on their road behaviour and commit to making the necessary changes. By simply buckling up, respecting speed limits, and ensuring our children are safely secured in appropriate car seats, we can dramatically reduce the risk of fatalities and severe injuries.”
ChildSafe South Africa Call to Action:
ChildSafe South Africa calls on all drivers including taxi’s, busses, and other road users to change their driver behaviour and to join this critical initiative by embracing safer driving practices and thus contributing to a safer, happier holiday season for everyone. Together, we can make a difference. For more information, please visit www.childsafe.org.za or contact us at info@childsafe.org.za.
-END-
Media Enquiries:
For further information, interviews, or comments, please contact
Zaitoon Rabaney, Executive Director, at info@childsafe.org.za or direct inquiries to ChildSafe South Africa’s Media Relations at +27 21 685 5208.
Simon Zwane, Chief Communications Officer, Road Traffic Management Corporation, 082 551 9892, simon.zwane@rtmc.co.za
Dr Van De Laar, African Brain Child, for comment from Prof Rohlwink dr.vandelaar@uct.ac.za
MORE ABOUT CHILDSAFE SOUTH AFRICA
ChildSafe South Africa is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to preventing and advocating against injuries of children through Advocacy, Research and Education.
MORE ABOUT AFRICAN BRAIN CHILD INITIATIVE
The African Brain Child Initiative (ABC) is a research group in the UCT Division of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Institute. The vision of ABC is a world where children with neurological conditions can maximize their potential. We aim to achieve this mission through a combination of clinical care, innovative clinical research, advocacy, and capacity building.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – For Radio and Social Media dissemination
Included are 10 clips under 30s each with messaging / quotes from ChildSafe South Africa and the African Brain Child initiative presented by UCT Associate Professor Ursula Rohlwink.
DOWNLOAD HERE – https://we.tl/t-hTEz4NejYV
“Did you know? 96 out of every 100 children who are admitted to ICU because they were involved in a motor crash have a moderate or severe injury to the head because they were not wearing a seat belt. #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”
“Did you know that a healthy brain is responsible for our entire human experience? When a child’s brain is damaged as a result of a motor vehicle crash, they lose their past. Their present. And their future? #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”
“Did You Know? But if you hit a pedestrian while driving between 50 and 70 kilometres per hour, there is a greater than 80% chance that you will kill them. #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”
“Too many children are dying of motor vehicle crash related injuries. It is your responsibility to change your behaviour. Make sure that all children in cars are wearing seatbelts. #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”.
“Did you know? You can prevent children from dying in motor crashes. Wear your seat belt. Make sure everyone in your car is wearing a seat belt. #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila
“Did you know that a child weighing 10 kilograms who is involved in a motor vehicle accident with the car traveling at 60 kilometres per hour equals a crash force of 600 kilograms, it is impossible to hold 600kgs and prevent that child from being ejected from the motor vehicle. Only a seat belt can achieve this job. #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”.
“Did you know that wearing a seat belt will reduce your chance of dying in a motor vehicle accident by 40 to 50% if you’re sitting in the front of a car and will reduce the risk of death in children by 60%? #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”.
“Did you know that injury is the leading cause of death in healthy children over the age of five and that 32% of that injury related death is due to road traffic accidents? #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”.
“Did you know that injury claims more lives than HIV, TB and malaria combined? #BeQuickToClick #arrivealive #fikaUsaphila”
Keywords:
Child Safety
Road Safety
Driver Behaviour Modification
Easter Road Safety
Preventable Road Injuries
Car Seat Safety
Speed Regulation
Fika Usaphila
Arrive Allive
Easter2024
Hashtags:
#BeQuickToClick #FikaUsaphila #ArriveAlive #easter2024 #BuckleUp #SpeedKills #SafeRoadsForAll #EasterSafetyCampaign #ChildSafeSA #ChildSafeEaster #DriveSafeSA #ChildSafetyFirst
