Johannesburg - The jury’s still out on whether road fatalities involving young children have decreased.
This is after a new law aimed at protecting young passengers came into effect five months ago. This week, traffic officials said that despite the campaign’s slow start progress has been made.
Joburg Metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said they frequently stopped motorists to ensure they adhere to the laws, while Ekurhuleni Metro police spokesman Wilfred Kgasago said the police in the area had also continued to educate parents about the importance of strapping in their kids.
A motorist, Ngwako Mothapo, received a R1 000 fine three weeks ago near his home in Mmabatho in the North West.
He was travelling with his two-year-old grandson when they were stopped by the traffic police.
“I washed the car at home and needed to pick someone up not far from the house. I was with my grandson and without a car seat. The seat had been removed while the car was being washed. I thought because it was a few streets away it wasn’t a big deal,” he said.
Mothapo was fined for not strapping in his grandson, and for not yielding at a stop sign.
In Klerksdorp over the past month, the Road Traffic Management Corporation has been holding a law enforcement operation focusing on educating the public on the need to put children in child restraints or seat belts when driving on public roads.
The campaign involved the police, the cross-border transportation agency and other law enforcement agencies, including various emergency medical services.
Simon Zwane of the Road Traffic Management Corporation said officials had found during the blitz that many parents buckled up themselves, while they left their children unsecured.
While the operation has been hailed a success, some children’s safety advocates say more work needs to be done.
“We cannot see whether the stats have come down. They simply do not exist for South African roads.
“We also can’t account for the deaths of these children individually,” said Peggie Mars, founder of Wheel Well, which collects new and used car seats and gives them to parents who can’t afford them.
Mars said there was a constant demand for the seats at her Randburg Brightwater Commons’ store, and areas countrywide.
“We’ve handed over 5 000 seats. It’s not just about car seats but about whether parents are educated.
“We are doing our big October drive now. This year we’ll be going to Cape Town and working with KFM. We’re planning to give away the seats on November 3,” Mars said.
Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport spokesperson Sam Monareng said: “The minister has always maintained that if parents can afford to have cars and buy gadgets for their cars, then they can surely afford (kids’) car seats.”
Saturday Star