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Rural kids get streetwise
29 October 2009 By Keotshepile wa Mogotsi SCHOOLCHILDREN in rural areas swapped their books for practical learning about road safety in an effort to curb fatalities on Mogale City's rural roads, the busiest of which include the Magaliesberg roads. As the festive month draws closer, the public safety department has geared up its activities, holding stringent road blocks and demonstrating social responsibility by visiting children to talk about their safety on the roads. The visits were prompted by the number of fatalities on busy rural roads. Under department manager, William Nchefu, the aim was to teach rural children to understand road rules, especially when crossing busy roads. While the safety project is ongoing throughout the year, the department prefers to visit rural areas during school holidays so as to reach scores of children. It is in line with the national Education Department's introduction to road safety, which is part of its curriculum. Learners in grades one to nine are targeted, and are taught about traffic signs; the higher grades learn about more complex laws. At Magaliesburg sports grounds, traffic cops turned the campaign into a fun game for the children. They brought along a sizable mat, a model representing a road system, with visible road signs. Plastic motorbikes and toy wheels were provided for the youngsters to play on the roads model. The department's Superintendent George Tshepo Tekana says: "This project is aimed at bringing safety projects to the rural areas so as to create awareness about road safety and to reduce fatalities on our roads." With the help of a local Christian community church in Magaliesburg, about 246 children played on the mat, which urban children have always enjoyed at Coronation Park. They were taught to cross roads at pedestrian crossings, to heed stop signs, traffic lights and scholar patrols, and about general road signs. Assistant Superintendent Jeannette Sebekedi says the educational programme stretches to Tarlton, Tshamahansi, Orienthills and Hekpoort. "I have seen a couple of fatal accidents which included children in our rural areas and I am glad that these types of projects are brought to our rural communities so that they also learn about their safety on our roads." It is envisaged that this ongoing programme will include the entire city, teaching road safety laws to children at an early age. Among its other safety campaigns, the department also targets pedestrians in the city centre over the festive season to reduce pedestrian accidents.
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 Traffic officer Rosemary Menyatso lays down the rules of the road
Related stories Safety forum launched Law enforcers sign MoU Safety exhibition fires up learners New traffic lights ensure children's safety Cameras catch speedsters Operation Happy Birthday targets child safety Putting safety first Rural learners get bicycles
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