RAF launches festive season youth campaign

According to the World Health Organisation road deaths are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 years old, globally.

This is also true for South Africa.

The number one cause of death for children aged five to 14 years old, is traffic related deaths.

Furthermore, two-thirds of traffic deaths among people aged 16 to 20 years old involve the abuse of alcohol.

This festive season, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is launching the “Meet the #FutureYou” campaign which is directed at the country’s youth and aims to encourage them to make smarter choices and be road savvy.

The RAF understands that young people today are aspirant and dynamic.

The RAF “Meet the #FutureYou” campaign not only affirms this but also reminds South Africa’s youth that reaching for their dreams starts by recognising and respecting the rules of the road, especially this festive season.

Phumelela Dhlomo, chief marketing officer, said that the RAF has a wide range of road safety activities targeted at the youth which seek to reduce the high number of pedestrian fatalities, instill safe and responsible behaviour, promote responsible road users, and encourage youngsters to become road safety ambassadors.

These include scholar programmes which teach school children basic pedestrian lessons such as how and where to cross the road.

In addition various schools are supplied with reflective uniforms for their scholar patrol pupils.

“The death of a child can be particularly traumatising to parents and we urge them to prevent this needless carnage by securing the safety of their young ones,” said Dhlomo.

An unrestrained rear-seat passenger poses a serious threat to any restrained person seated directly ahead of them, whereas a belted occupant will remain in their seat, thus not only reducing the likelihood and severity of injury to themselves, but also to drivers and front seat passengers.

The RAF road safety campaign “Meet the #FutureYou” will run throughout the festive season.