Eastern Cape Transport to host pedestrian safety workshops

In a bid to fight against pedestrian fatalities and to empower pedestrians holistically, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport in collaboration with various provincial institutions will host pedestrian education workshops throughout the province.

The idea was initiated by the fact that pedestrians are legitimate road users, who are most vulnerable on the roads. They constitute 40% of the total road accidents and this is more prevalent in third world countries. The accidents are as a result of unacceptable road user behaviour and attitudes coupled with high level of ignorance.

Another factor being that South Africa is a much motorised society and infrastructure has been developed around the needs of the motorist, creating better roads resulting in high speed and less focus has been put on the pedestrians. Whether building new infrastructure or renovate the existing facilities, it should be made to accommodate pedestrians.

The situation is made worse by inadequate pedestrian facilities closer to the residential areas, too busy main roads and the establishment of informal settlement. Among the institutions that are going the be part of the workshops, we have Road Accident Fund (RAF), South Africa National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL), South African Breweries (SAB), Social Development , Safety and Security, Safety Engineering Sanlam Sky, Health Department and Local Government and Traditional Affairs Department.

Topics of the day will include:

• Safety and security
• Substance and alcohol abuse
• Traffic laws and other legislations
• Pedestrian safety
• Accident, injuries and claims,
• Isurance
• Safe environment and passenger safety.

Details of the workshops are as follows:

Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Director: Communications
Cell: 082 562 6023

Source: Eastern Cape Transport