Let's work to save children from road deaths

| Friday June 18, 2010 00:00

While the police have not stated the times when the accidents happen, it does appear that most of them occur in the morning when children are on their way to school. Another dangerous time is the afternoon when the students return from school. This pattern shows that school children are the most vulnerable. This calls for intensification of safety measures especially at the times when students go and from school most likely using the roadside paths.

It is heartbreaking to see a five-year-old knocked down by a speeding motorist who should have had the sense to slow down after seeing the children cluttered along the road. It is sad when children cannot cross the road safely because there are many vehicles speeding bye, none of them willing to stop for them. When that happens, children end up trying to beat the speeding vehicles. But these children do not have the necessary skills to accurately judge the speed of the travelling vehicles, often in more than one direction. It them becomes difficult to find a safe space where one can cross. It takes a responsible adult to think of these children.  Schools, parents, non-governmental organisations and relevant government departments must all join hands to educate not only the children but all road users about safety practices. When a parent sees a child or a group of children trying to cross, help them to do so safely. If it means going in the opposite direction from your destination, do it.

It is all worthwhile.   An adult who is late for work and speeds past a neighbourhood or an area where children are likely to be found either walking to or from school, or just playing, must know that he or she can never replace the life of the little girl or boy he may hit with his or her car. Whilst we area at it, we should develop within us as a nation, the spirit that will simply not allow irresponsible behaviour that endangers our little ones. Parents must play their role in teaching their children to avoid the roadside. It is shocking to see the number of three to six-year olds who play by the roadside or on the road. Surely, these children have parents or caretakers who should know better than to allow their children to use the road environment as a playground.  So, when as neighbours we see our neighbour being careless about where his or her children play, let us do something about it.  It will also be a good idea for government to consider enacting legislation that holds parents legally responsible for the failure  to keep their children off the road. Government should consider road safety measures that give priority to pedestrians. It does not appear like government has given much thought to this clear need.  Too many roads are built with very little provision for the non-motorised road user. Take Gaborone's western by-pass for example.

With four lanes, the by-pass is one of the most pedestrian unfriendly roads around. The road has no pedestrian crossing, no overhead bridge or other safe means for the hundreds of pedestrians who cross to either side of the road every day.  Many of these pedestrians are school children. Many continue to be hit by speeding vehicles while trying to cross. Government should consider reducing traffic speeds to levels appropriate for prevailing conditions. Sixty kilometres per hour is way too fast for a narrow residential area trunk road.  We should build wider and unobstructed footpaths and provide adequate crossing facilities not only for the safety of pedestrians but also for their safety.  These don't have to be the expensive concrete type that government has built in some areas.  We can all make our roads safe for everyone, especially for our children.

                                                                       Today's thought

                                          'We want a safer community for children and families.'

                                                                     - Shardell Jerald