Wheel Well brings life-saving halo beanies to young pedestrians in Ratanda
A simple knitted beanie is making a big difference in Ratanda. Wheel Well has distributed reflective Halo Beanies to young children, improving their visibility to motorists while keeping them warm during winter.
A child road safety initiative is helping to address one of South Africa’s most persistent road safety challenges by improving the visibility of young pedestrians in Ratanda during the winter months.
Wheel Well, a non-profit organisation dedicated to child road safety, distributed reflective Halo Beanies to toddlers and young learners at Smile Day Care in Obed Nkosi on July 29.
The initiative aims to reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents by making children more visible to motorists during periods of poor light.
The beanies are handmade by community knitting and crochet groups using specially prepared “Beanie Packs” sponsored by Supa Quick and distributed by Wheel Well. The project combines community participation with a practical road safety intervention aimed at protecting vulnerable children.
Wheel Well founder Peggie Mars said the initiative provides a simple but effective way of improving child safety.
“Children should never be placed at greater risk simply because they cannot be seen.
“The Halo Beanie is a practical solution that gives motorists more time to notice young pedestrians, particularly during the darker winter mornings and evenings. By working together with community volunteers and our partners, we are helping to create safer environments for children,” she said.
Mars added that while road safety education remains essential, very young children are often unable to fully understand traffic hazards, making visibility one of the most effective forms of protection.
“The distribution at Smile Day Care forms part of Wheel Well’s ongoing national campaign to reduce child road fatalities through education, community partnerships and preventative safety programmes. In addition to the Halo Beanie Project, we also run a Car Seats for Kids campaign, promoting safer travel for children across South Africa,” she said.
Wheel Well has received international recognition for its contribution to child road safety, including the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, which honours excellence and innovation in improving road safety worldwide.
