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The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has expressed concern over the alarming number of road fatalities involving school-going children in South Africa. According to the RAF, the five-year average for road fatalities among children aged 5 to 19 is 1,288, which translates to approximately four fatalities per day and over 100 deaths each month.
Causes of Fatalities
The RAF’s statistics reveal that 60% of the fatalities involved children who died in car crashes as pedestrians, while 36% were passengers, 2% cyclists, and 2% drivers. The Fund attributes these fatalities to reckless road behavior, including mindless acts such as using a phone while driving, eating while driving, or crossing over a solid line before it ends.
Call to Action
The RAF is urging all road users to introspect their attitude towards road safety and take conscious steps to save young lives. Collins Letsoalo, RAF Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that “South African road users must stay alert. Your actions can profoundly impact human lives, particularly those of our future leaders.”
Road Safety Initiatives
The RAF will continue to educate, create awareness, and advocate for the responsible and safe use of roads throughout the year. The Fund’s road safety initiatives include supporting the Scholar Patrol Programme, which aims to increase road safety awareness among school-going children and reduce crashes involving this target group.
What to Do in Case of an Accident
If you or your children are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the RAF can be contacted on 087 820 1 111 from Monday to Friday, 07h45 to 16h00. Claimants can also contact the RAF’s Contact Centre on WhatsApp (071 605 4707), SMS (44930), or email (contactcentre@raf.co.za).
Stay Safe on the Roads
The RAF urges all road users to be vigilant and take responsibility for their actions on the roads. By working together, we can reduce the number of road fatalities and create a safer environment for all road users.
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