DEAR Editor,-
Reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) plans to incorporate road safety, including relevant traffic rules and regulations, as an integral part of schools’ curriculum design is a most welcome step.
The Democratic Alliance has long held that the orientation of young minds towards respecting and understanding the rules of the road is critical in reducing the high number of fatalities on our country’s roads. The issue of pedestrian deaths is particularly relevant in this case.
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The carnage on our roads points to a general disregard for traffic rules by road users while the move to educate pupils on the dangers of drunk driving, speeding and unroadworthy vehicles, from a young age, can only be a positive step.
South Africa has some of the worst road traffic fatality and injury rates in the world. A recent World Health Organisation Report identified road crashes to be the main cause of deaths among the SA Youth population (5-29 years age group), suggesting that the very future of our country is at stake.
This untimely loss of life impacts not only on affected families in a profound way, it also places strain on our economy via an already overburdened health system.
This ongoing scourge must be addressed as a matter of urgency. The DA in KZN is committed to ensuring that the DBE implements its awareness strategy sooner rather than later.
RAFEEK SHAH, MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport
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