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.
