As October marks National Transport Month, the Mondlo Methodist Church hosted an awareness session led by Samkelo Khumalo, road safety officer principal in the Zululand District. The initiative aimed to educate church members on road safety practices to help prevent injuries and fatalities on the roads.

In his address, Khumalo outlined the duties of road safety officers, which include developing and implementing safety programmes, promoting public awareness, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. He also noted that their work is conducted in close collaboration with the MEC for Transport.

Khumalo highlighted the three key pillars of road safety – namely the pedestrian, the passenger and the driver – stressing that if all road-users take extra precautions, accidents can be significantly reduced. He pointed out that pedestrians, especially children, account for about 40% of road fatalities. He advised pedestrians to always look left, right and left again before crossing; listen for oncoming vehicles; and avoid using cellphones while crossing the road.
He further urged passengers to always wear seat belts and avoid distracting the driver. To drivers, Khumalo emphasised the importance of staying alert, obeying speed limits, focusing on the road, and never driving under the influence of alcohol.

After his presentation, Khumalo engaged the children with a short quiz to test their understanding of road safety principles. Each child received a small token for participating in the session.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.