Seminar looks at safety

The City is hosting a seminar looking at road safetyRoad accidents will be discussed at a Transport Month seminar, with a view to finding ways to cut the number of fatal crashes.
CUTTING the number of fatalities on Joburg roads tops the agenda of the member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee.

Cutting road fatalities is a priority: member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana MoosajeeCutting road fatalities is a priority: member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana MoosajeeTo help reach this objective, which was outlined by the United Nations in its Decade of Action for road safety campaign, Moosajee will host an information and awareness-raising seminar at Gold Reef City on 25 October.

It is one of the City’s Transport Month activities. The month runs nationally each October. “Too many people in our city do not know what’s on offer in Johannesburg because a lack of easily available transport is a barrier,” Moosajee said, speaking before Transport Month got under way.

“Too many people do not cross the transport divide to get to know each other.” The aim of this year’s Transport Month is to change all that, which is why the theme is Connecting People and Places.

The seminar will explore a variety of transport issues. “The event is a one-day capacity-building seminar in respect of road safety,” explained a City spokesperson, Dudu Lushaba. “This is to lay the foundation for the launch of the Road Safety Council. Participants will discuss how the [council] should be set up.”

Speakers will include Modjadi Dorah Mahlo, a representative of Pikitup workers who have been injured in road accidents. She will talk about the effects that road deaths have on families. Ashraf Ismail from the Road Traffic Management Corporation will give the government’s response to the UN Decade of Action.

Mandy Latimore, from Gauteng People with Disabilities, will provide some insight into what can be done to prevent fatalities and to support road accident victims. After the seminar, participants will be asked to accompany Moosajee to Gold Reef City Primary School to help paint a pedestrian crossing.

Other activities that have taken place during Transport Month include a fun walk, cycle or skateboard through the inner city on 2 October; the launch of non-motorised transport projects such as pavements and storm water drainage infrastructure on 3 October; and a public transport race across Joburg and a clean-up of kerb inlets in Alexandra, both on 7 October.

A Know your City tour with 100 minibus taxi and bus drivers will wrap up proceedings on 31 October.