28 Aug 2018

School crossing patrols have been hailed as an important and essential part of road safety education that helps enhance the safety of scholars to and from school.

 Speaking during the induction of police volunteers in Molepolole recently, Molepolole traffic safety officer, Ms Tendai Lisenda said since inception in 2012, the patrols have brought positive results to the extent that other road safety committees around Botswana had started benchmarking from them. 

Ms Lisenda said they were stirred by an alarming rate of accidents involving pupils when they introduced the initiative, saying in that year from January to May they recorded 29 accidents where pupils were hit by cars. 

“In 2013 and 2014 we recorded seven accidents each year involving pupils and from 2015 to 2017 we recorded three annually, but after introducing the safer crossing patrols the accidents drastically reduced,” she said. 

Ms Lisenda said the patrollers, who were police volunteers, assisted by regulating traffic, calming the children and facilitating safe crossing thereby instilling in the minds of the young pedestrians awareness of the importance of road safety. She said the initiative relied on a team of police volunteers to be on time daily, and commended them for their focus on the safety of pedestrians and prioritising it as of paramount importance. She urged them to be punctual and dedicated to their job despite unfavorable conditions.

Meanwhile, Ms Lisenda pleaded with non-governmental organisations to assist with more reflector vests that volunteers could use during harsh weather conditions. 

For his part, police traffic officer Sub-Inspector Ernest Sebubi of Molepolole Police Station said the concept of safer scholar patrols was not only a Molepolole nor Botswana initiative, but a worldwide practice as accidents involving children were alarming around the world. 

He urged patrollers to be conscious and cautious as they helped pedestrians because they would be required to work with road users of different temperaments. Sub-Inspector Sebubi also reminded the police volunteers not to resume duty under the influence of alcohol and to respect all road users and use acceptable language to communicate with them. He said they should always put on their reflective vests as they were important for safety and visibility. ENDS