Johannesburg – With the aim of reducing the high rate of road crashes in South Africa, Bridgestone Southern Africa has partnered with child road safety NGO Wheel Well and the Department of Community Safety to carry out a road safety education programme in eight high schools across Gauteng and three in the North West Province.
The programme, which is called “Life is a Journey”, recently took place at Tembisa School of Specialisation in Tembisa and rolled out into other high schools in the township including Masisebenze Secondary School. It will also be implemented in several schools in Ivory Park, Midrand, including Eqinisweni Secondary School. Three high schools in Brits in the North West Province will also benefit from the programme.
This road safety initiative focuses on educating young people about the fundamentals of road and tyre safety, vehicle maintenance, and passenger responsibility.
During the event at Tembisa School of Specialisation, Bridgestone representatives led interactive sessions where learners were taught how to assess whether a vehicle is roadworthy, focusing particularly on tyre inspection. They were also encouraged to speak up if they saw a faulty aspect of a vehicle, heard strange sounds or smelt something unusual while in the car. Learners also received practical information on essential car safety equipment, including tools typically kept in the car boot, like a fire extinguisher as well as a safety triangle used to alert other drivers when a car has broken down.
“It’s empowering to educate young people about road safety and vehicle maintenance,” said Fikile Masoga, Key Account Manager at Bridgestone. “Road safety is not just the driver’s responsibility-passengers and pedestrians also play a critical role. We want to instil a culture of awareness and responsibility among the youth.”
A touching moment of the day came from Zwelethu Mazibuko, a car crash survivor who shared his personal experience.
“A drunk, speeding driver changed my life forever,” said Mazibuko, who now lives with a facial scar, speech impairment, epilepsy, diabetes and memory issues due to brain injury. Once a rising television presenter, he lost his career, good income, marriage and many friends.
Zwelethu is now part of Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death), a road safety advocacy campaign.
Mazibuko spoke openly about the long-term consequences of road crashes, reinforcing messages around the importance of wearing seatbelts, avoiding drinking and driving, and being accountable for one’s actions on the road.
The event gave learners a wealth of valuable information:
“I learnt a lot including that you must only drive if you have a licence and that before getting into a car you must check that it is roadworthy and registered,” said Tonecia Khosa, a learner at Tembisa School of Specialisation. “Zwelethu’s talk highlighted that when driving, you are not driving only for yourself, but also for others. He also showed me the importance of driving safely because if you are in a bad car crash, your family and friends will be heartbroken.”
The Department of Community Safety has been responsible for identifying schools for these road safety talks. “We are thrilled to be part of this great initiative,” said Mr Sello Maremane, the Spokesperson for Gauteng Traffic Police. “The department’s commitment to these talks shows its commitment to protecting young lives and building a culture of road safety from a young age.”
Peggie Mars, founder of Wheel Well, said: “By engaging with learners before harmful habits form, we’re giving them the tools and mindset to be safe road users by making good decisions-whether as drivers or passengers. We are eternally grateful to Bridgestone for their support.”
By fostering awareness among young people now, Bridgestone, Wheel Well and the Department of Community Safety hope to contribute meaningfully to a future where every road user plays their part in creating safer roads.
