For countries in a phase of rapid motorization, roads are often built without due consideration for the communities they pass through. A shift in mind set is desperately needed to ensure that roads everywhere serve the needs of and are safe for all who use them, including children. On Wednesday 26th June 2019, Emergency Assist 991 hosted a Road Safety Stakeholders seminar at Cresta Lodge Gaborone to introduce and launch our road safety project, “Safer roads to schools – too young to die!”
World Health Organization estimates that over 477 people are killed on Botswana’s roads each year, and child pedestrians are amongst the highest-risk groups in Botswana for road traffic injury.
Road Safety Grant Programme
EA991 is proud to have the support of the FIA Foundation through its Road Safety Grant Programme.The Programme will reach 3360 students to ensure safety aspects are an integral part during highway planning and designs, build capacity and skills through scholar patrol trainings at schools and increase community involvement.
Three schools located in built up areas with a high risk to child pedestrians were selected for implementation of this project; Itumeleng Primary School, Taung Primary School and Mogoditshane Primary School. Working with Society of Road Safety Ambassadors (SORSA), we will improve safety around these schools and school entrances and advocate for action to catalyse the introduction of safe road infrastructure in all schools in the country.
Speakers at the launch included EA991 director, Tumelo Pabalinga; FIA Foundation Programmes Manager Aggie Krasnolucka-Hickman and EA991 Marketing and PR Officer, Pulane Majova.
Road Infrastructure Stakeholders
Amongst the stakeholders that were in attendance was the Director of Traffic, Superintendent Katlholo Mosimanegape of Botswana Police Service. When addressing concerns raised by some attendees, he highlighted that as we take a step towards educating pupils on road safety and put in place supporting infrastructure, it is important that we also sensitize drivers on changing their attitudes on the roads.
Building new roads and modifying existing road infrastructure with a concern for safety will enhance the safety of our communities and reduce risks to children from road traffic crushes, which is our ultimate goal with the Safer roads to schools – too young to die! Initiative. We encourage members of the community to contact EA991 with any suggestions and to participate in this initiative. Together we can make a difference.
Watch the video presented at the launch of the EA991 #SaferRoadsToSchool highlighting the dangers faced by pedestrian children on our roads.
Watch the video presented at the launch of the EA991 #SaferRoadsToSchool highlighting the dangers faced by pedestrian children on our roads.
