South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD) in KwaZulu-Natal partnered with the U.S. Consulate General in Durban and the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to South Africa to walk with Imvunulo Senior Secondary School learners and local councilors and members of parliament as part of the United Nations Global Road Safety Week, 6-12 May 2013.
In partnership with South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD), United Nations Road Safety Fund, and Msunduzi Municipality, the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to South Africa sponsors a “long short walk” for road safety.
A “Long Short Walk” with Imvunulo Senior Secondary School More than 270,000 pedestrians lose their lives on the world’s roads each year.
The World Health Organization is calling on governments to be proactive and to take concrete actions to improve the safety of pedestrians. The proportion of pedestrians killed in relation to other road users is highest in the African Region and generally the need for immediate attention is paramount. There is an urgent need to rethink the way we organize our transport systems to make walking safe and to save pedestrian lives. In Africa pedestrian deaths account for 40% of the road traffic deaths, as opposed to accounting for 22% in developed countries.
A 5% cut in average speed can mean a 30% reduction in the number of fatal crashes. Under the banner of “Make Walking Safe” the Second United Nations Global Road Safety Week (6-12 May) kicks off worldwide. The goal is zero pedestrian deaths in this week. With events registered in more than 70 countries the Global Road Safety Week seeks to draw attention to the needs of pedestrians, to generate action on protective measures, and to contribute to achieving the goal of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 – to save 5 million lives.
South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD), the United Nations Road Safety Fund, and the United States Diplomatic Mission to South Africa have partnered to hold a “Long Short Walk” at Imvunulo Senior School at Taylors Halt, Pietermaritzburg on 7 May 2013. Learners and dignitaries will complete the walk to highlight the dangers that are faced every day just walking to school and to remember those that have lost their lives. The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to South Africa has donated funds for reflective backpacks, reflective badges, and ‘safe road’ t-shirts, and educational materials for the learners. The U.S. Consul General will hand over books and magazines to jump start a reading corner.
SADD and the school are working closely with the Department of Transport to improve crossing conditions on the very busy M70. Pedestrians in South African are some of the most vulnerable road users, and SADD would like to see the following implemented:
• Enforcing the existing speed limits (and reducing limits to 30 or maximum 40 kms outside schools)
• Compulsory wearing of the correct seatbelts in the front and back of cars
• Decreasing mobile phone use
• Putting in place infrastructure which separates pedestrians from other traffic – such as sidewalks and overpasses.
•Effective speed bumps (slows traffic down to 8km an hour) or speed humps which slows vehicles down to 30 km an hour.
For updates about road safety initiatives, visit www.sadd.org.za. For more information about the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to South Africa, visit http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/ for our website, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.