Oct 2015

Road safety tips

Written by Maselaelo Seshotle
South Africa celebrates Transport Month in October. Here are some tips from Vuk’uzenzele to help you stay safe on the road. 
  • Obey the speed limit.
  • Do not use your cellphone while driving.
  •  Do not drink and drive.
  • Ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy and maintain a safe following distance.
  • Always wear a seat belt, whether you are the driver or the passenger, even when travelling short distances.
  • Parents and caregivers must always secure children properly to reduce the risk of injury and/or death in the event of a crash.
  • Parents are advised to select a car seat based on their child’s age and size and to avoid travelling with a child on their lap.
  • Young children and infants should never be left unattended in a car. 
  • Parents need to teach children safe traffic behaviour from an early age to keep them safe.
Pedestrians should:
  • Wear bright colours at all times.
  • Obey traffic signals.
  • Cross at pedestrian crossings.
  • Not drink and cross the road.
  • Not cross where a road bends or leads to a sharp curve.
  • Avoid wearing headsets and talking on the phone while crossing the road.
Cyclists should
  • Motorcycles provide almost no protection in a crash, so it is advisable for motorcyclists to wear protective, visible and reflective clothing.
  • Motorcyclists should also keep their headlights on, avoid other vehicles’ blind spots and be cautious of dangerous road conditions. 
  • Cyclists and motorists must be selfless and share the road safely. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers.
  • Those using bicycles should make use of pedal cycle lanes where these are available and keep as close to the left edge of the road as possible.
  • Cyclists should also obey the traffic signs and signals, use hand signals when turning or changing lanes, wear a helmet that fits properly and never ride with headphones on.
Source: Western Cape Department of Transport
Safety and Security
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