‘Stop SMS-ing when driving’ campaign held

AFTER realising that many road accidents happen as a result of drivers using cellphones while behind the steering wheel, Business Friday decided to embark on a safety campaign: Do Not text and Drive.

The campaign was launched in Lebowakgomo earlier this year by two young people who founded this organisation. Their aim is to encourage drivers to be responsible and stop using cellphones while driving, especially not sending SMS’s. Business Friday project analyst, Freddy Shako, said they were worried that innocent people were losing their lives because of unnecessary accidents that are caused by people who write messages on cellphones while driving.

Shako said their campaign consisted of visits to companies, schools and municipalities to encourage drivers to heed their call.

“We also want to use media houses to spread the message and we want to make sure that the campaign reach the national stage,” said Shako.

He said that the campaign also aimed to compel the government to pass legislation that totally banned SMS-ing while driving.

Business Friday is a youth organisation that deals with the empowerment of young people in the province.

They help young people with information about education, business and employment.

Business Friday project manager, Thapelo Thaba, urged communities to come on board and help push the campaign forward. “We are also appealing to donors and sponsors so that we can start to erect billboards and advertise the massage to save lives,” he said.

The organisation can be contacted at 083 506 6443 or 073 041 0595.