The King Zwelithini High School in KwaZulu-Natal walked away with the prestigious prize in this year’s National Participatory Educational Techniques Competition sponsored by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department Transport, as well as the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).
Ranthoko Rakgoale, Chief Executive Officer of the RTMC said that road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death among the 15 to 29 years old age group in the world in 2004 and it is estimated that unless immediate action is taken, road traffic deaths will rise to the fifth leading cause of death by the year 2030, resulting in 2,4 million fatalities per year.
“This highlights that issues of road safety amongst the youth are now taken seriously with more collaboration amongst a variety of stakeholders. It is for this reason that this project, National Participatory Educational Techniques (PET), is organised and run. The need to ensure that the situation does not get worse than it already is necessitates that the road safety knowledge and skills of the worst affected age group be enhanced to increase the chances of survival through safer road conduct that may result from the knowledge gained through the project”, says Rakgoale.
Some of the identified problems raised by the learners from their communities included:
* lack of pedestrian crossing, scholar patrols, humps and road signs on the road
* lack of signs cautioning motorists about blind and deaf pedestrians in the areas
* speeding, unlicensed and under aged drivers
* lack of lamp poles for visibility at night
* stray animals and
* drinking and driving
Through this project, the learners are being made conscious of the road safety environment in their respective communities. They each input into finding solutions first hand. This is an inaugural national competition and the models on display told of the hard work and dedication that the learners had put into the project. There are other benefits that result from the project such as engineering skills, dramatic arts, arts and crafts, public speaking and English language proficiency. The effect of peer to peer knowledge transfer should not be underestimated as that is likely to be more effective considering the age of the participants.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation treats this project with seriousness it deserves, as a tool that has the potential to reduce the carnage in the country. It forms part of the RTMC’s strategy and will remain one of the projects that will be considered for as long as it is still relevant and receives the support of provinces whose effort are appreciated in making this project a success.
The 10 member team representing KwaZulu-Natal was named the top group and they each received a trophy, medals and a check to the value of R30 000 on behalf of their school. The second best group from the Efata School of the Blind and Deaf from the Eastern Cape received each a trophy, medals and a check to the value of R20 000 on behalf of their school and the third prize went to Motswela High School from the Free State with each leaner receiving a trophy, medal and a check to the value of R15 000 on behalf of their school. The other participants all received trophies and a check per school to the value of R2 000 for their outstanding efforts.
For further information contact:
Zodwa Mtsweni
Tel: 012 809 5326
Cell: 072 311 5500
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 December 2009
Source: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/)
