Creating an active and enjoyable learning environment is one of the approaches through which eThekwini Municipality is familiarizing learners with road safety, in an effort to reduce death tolls on South African roads.

The current statistics of fatalities on the country’s roads every year was recently announced by Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula where it emerged that 14 000 fatalities were recorded in the last financial year, costing the country R166 billion.

As part of the City’s pledge to save lives, eThekwini Transport Authority’s (ETA) school road safety awareness campaign is underway.

ETA officials, Metro Police and the City’s road safety ambassadors visited 10 schools between 7 and 16 October. During the programme, learners were taught the basics of road safety such as the correct procedure to follow when crossing the road and using public transport; in a fun, stimulating and memorable manner.

Schools located on the Corridor 3 route from Pinetown to Bridge City in KwaMashu were targeted as there is going to be a lot of activity with the GO!Durban programme.

According to ETA Head Thami Manyathi, creating an active and fun learning environment is critical to ensure a lasting and unforgettable education experience. “I was pleased that the learners portrayed eagerness to learn and were asking questions during the sessions.”

Manyathi further said there is about 800 primary schools in the eThekwini area and ETA plans to continue hosting such campaigns as this is envisaged to have a positive impact in increasing road safety awareness and in reducing child pedestrian accidents.

Furthermore, partnering with the South African National Taxi Council and other law enforcement agencies, ETA will also during this month conduct the road safety initiative in various taxi ranks to continue with the informative sessions aimed at changing drivers’ mindsets in a bid to decrease road crashes.