Keeping your children safe should be your priority

Children are heading back to school this week but what many may not realise while shedding a tear and saying a temporary goodbye, is that a drastic increase in road traffic is also set to take place.

With this in mind, the Automobile Association of South Africa has come out guns blazing, saying that now is the time to prioritise road safety.

“While government has a major role to play in making roads safer – including increasing the number of traffic law enforcers, increasing funding and resources for traffic law enforcement – motorists have an equally important role to play. In addition to ensuring roads are safe through their daily behaviour, they need to set an example for the next generation of road users,” said the AA.

The AA said that parents, guardians and others drivers who transport children need to ensure:

All passengers – even those in the back seat-– are properly secured in child restraints, or are wearing seatbelts.

That child restraints are properly fastened and properly attached the vehicle.

They are an example by obeying the rules of the road. This includes driving to the conditions of the road, and not using any electronic devices while driving.

That they understand that they share the road with others and remain calm behind the wheel.

All passengers remain seated and, if they are operating a public transport vehicle, ensure they are not overloading.

They leave enough time to reach their destination without needing to speed (this includes monitoring social media and listening to radio traffic reports for crashes which may delay them).

That their vehicle is properly maintained and in a roadworthy condition (this includes checking wiper blades and tyres).

Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.