The Stellenbosch Traffic Department launched a poncho project on Friday 23 September. About 16 schools of greater Stellenbosch took part in it.
Learners were given reflective ponchos so that they could be visible on the roads. The ponchos also protect them from the rain.
The traffic department has a unit which visits 99 schools, including crèches, nursery schools, pre-schools, 13 institutions and other centres in the area.
The programme is designed to address challenges associated with the different age groups in educating them on road safety. This would include where to walk, where to cross a road, and the use of pedestrian crossings and intersections.
Janine Waldis, manager of the Stellenbosch Traffic Services, said in the past two years:
- five children between the ages of one and five were seriously injured;
- between the ages of six to 10, one was fatally injured, seven were seriously and nine lightly injured;
- between the ages of 11 to 15 , there was one fatal injury, three were seriously injured and six lightly; and
- between the ages of 16 to 18, two were seriously injured and 14 slightly injured.
Waldis said this will be an ongoing project.
“Our aim is to give every learner who has to walk to school a poncho to be visible on the roads and to protect them on rainy days,” she said.
