27 Nov 2018

 A local NGO, Society of Road Safety Ambassadors - SORSA in partnership with AMEND, an international NGO and FedEx Express have launched a road safety programme tag-lined, safe routes to school at Bophirima Primary School in Gaborone. 

The initiative, comprising of efforts from civil society, community and the private sector provides lifesaving infrastructure and road safety education to benefit primary school children at high risk of road traffic accidents in Gaborone. 

In an interview, SORSA founder Mr Maatla Otsogile said the low-cost road safety infrastructure came as a response to curb the problem of children who lose lives and sustain injuries from road accidents. 

He said the collaboration between the community, the private sector and the civil society proved that child protection and development was not the duty of government alone and it required collective efforts. 

“With this intervention, we are saying enough with deaths of children due to road accidents. We urge drivers to drive with caution to save the lives of children because they are an investment for the country,” Mr Otsogile cautioned. 

AMEND senior programme officer Mr Simon Kalolo revealed that the infrastructure package encompassed footpaths or walkways, pedestrian crossing, road signs, speed calming humps and a mural that depicts road safety message on the wall. 

“These measures were installed after careful assessment and surveys conducted at Bophirima. They have proven effective in reducing road traffic injuries among child pedestrians by separating children from traffic,” Mr Kalolo explained. 

He said the infrastructure would ensure that traffic slowed down near the school and alert drivers about the presence of child pedestrians in the area. 

Adding on, Mr Kalolo divulged that the infrastructure would be complemented with road safety education afforded to the pupils. 

He further explained that the infrastructure would be maintained and refurbished by local authorities being the city council. 

 FedEx senior operations manager, Southern Africa Mr Ahmed Ebrahim underscored that the company had more than 185 000 vehicles on the world’s roads and maintains highest regards for safety. He said FedEx wanted to help in reducing cases of vulnerable children in Botswana who faced grave risks walking to and from school and encountering traffic in their journey, hence they supported the safe school area initiative. 

Senior teacher guidance and counselling department at Bophirima Ms Polite Mokote commended the sponsors of the project and noted that it would be valuable in saving pupils’ lives. 

Ms Mokote, also coordinator of road safety club in the school, highlighted that road accident have a negative impact on the students and school academic performance as well in the victims’ overall life. 

“Four of our learners were involved in car accidents since 2016. To us, it’s a setback because just one life disrupted is many lives disrupted. Mr Mbiganyi Kitsi whose son was hit by a car shared his life experience after the accident. 

He encouraged parents to take the lead in the protection of their children by either walking them across the roads or providing transport to and from school. 

He also appealed to the school and SORSA to continue providing road safety education to children. 

The launch was concluded with a demonstration of road safety activities by the road safety club coordinated by SORSA member Mr Lucky Mudala. 

Demonstrations included how children behave when they encounter different traffic volumes, how they should cross the road and how to walk along the road safely. ENDS