Trevor Fana Monkgatusi
Every month the Department inverts school children to come and be taught about road safety. School children from the age of six to eleven years come from all corners of Gaborone either private of government aided schools. This traffic school was build in 1998 by Shell company and officially handed to Maruapula branch on 1999. I had the opportunity to be part of team which was responsible for the January campaigns. Is the Department mission to make sure that school children get to learn about road safety a much as possible as figures prove that school children are heavily involved on most of road accidents than adults.
I have to admit it was not a big deal of work as i have expected before thanks to my experienced boss. My job was to find a lists of schools who are interested on bring students and look for a free slot for them. After allocating a slot for them, i make sure i make a series of calls to them so as to make arrangement on when should they come, with how many students, what times and date etc. On day one, i received an fax from Letlhabile Primary School and the head of office told me to find them a slot. I immediately called the teacher's number which was attached on the fax and fortunately she was more than pleased with my arrangements. Thursday 10 am was the day and time agreed upon.
On that day (Wednesday) i prepared for event by finding videos, picture, posters and other media to show to the children. I also made sure the kids motorbikes and traffic lights were all working together with the help on technician staff. My other colleges were busy wrapping gifts which will be awarded to children and arranging tables and chairs. By lunch time the stage was set.
D day came and 30 pupils with 5 teachers filled the hall. We taught them about all they need to know about road safety. Mainly what they must do before crossing and while crossing the road. Children being children, we have to keep their concentration up by keeping on asking them continues questions on what we have been teaching. Those who answered were awarded with road safety pencil case, books and even snacks and many more. That helped a lot as they all wanted to take part hence showing some real intense concentration. After the event we took them for a spin on their bikes as they passed through traffic lights to see how they learned.
After the event we sat down and reflected on our job. My boss was very impressed as it was our time doing such event yet we did it very well and she kept on stressing on the importance of raising road safety among children. Pictures taken we sent to I.T lab for making of broaches and some to government magazine. She also told us to monitor the Botswana Daily News which is the government newspaper and see if the pictures were included under "Society in action" section. We also have to get feed back form the school regarding the whole experience at the events after two or three days. My only concern was the lack of safety on children during the event. A boy felt badly and cut his finger while on the bike, only to find out later while trying to give him first aid that the medication has long expired. That did not please me and the teacher either but all in all i enjoyed my day.
2 comments:
hello Trevor Fana Monkgatusi
I hope you had great time at the Department of Road Transport and Safety. Well, i will say the Department is going a great job in disseminating information about Road Safety. It is interesting to see that the Department is not only focusing on drivers but also on potential future drivers. Road accidents does not only involves drives, it involves all road users and students are also road users ,and is so sad to see many of them killed or injured on roads accidents. Thats why Children Traffic School was introduced. To date 150 000 children have passed trough the school ,including those from schools for children with disabilities. Traditionally road safety has been seen as the responsibility of the government, and i will say this traditional view is slowly changing and the need for everyone to play a part is improving,road safety is slowly recognized. ''lets make Road Safety every's responsibility'' Thanks for Shell company for starting CHILDREN TRAFFIC SCHOOL.
Road accidents made headlines of almost every newspaper or headline in television . Precious lives are lot almost every day and usually due to careless and reckless attitudes of drivers. Besides education, may be the Department can also promote advocacy among every road users in Botswana to take part in road safety . Department can call out to all individual and organization to take responsibility in creating a safe roads. lets all take incentive on how we behave on the road as pedestrians, drivers and passengers. Each individual contribution will save many lives.
So Trevor
What do you think about causes of road accidents in Botswana,do people involved in road accidents because they are not given more information or just its because they are ignorant ?
Hello Florance. Is good to hear from someone who was on the same Department with me although on different branches. The reason why the traffic school was formed in the first place as we have already said, was to inform young ones about road safety. The way i see it is that, most of road accidents at Botswana are not caused by lack of information about road safety with young ones. It mainly caused by reckless drivers who normally drink and drive as most fingers show.
Yes i agree with the idea of children traffic school as it will inform children about road safety and reduce figures but like you have said, more responsibility lies on the hands of drivers. The department has done more than enough as far as informing about road safety although figures show otherwise. Most road accidents happen during public holidays like Festive and Easter holidays and usually young children end up being victims.
If the Department can encourage private sectors to inform its staff about the importance road safety then the better. It should not be the responsibility of the government alone in helping on road safety. That can be done manly on approaching public holidays as more road accidents happen during that time.
Finally when answering your question, people are involved in road accidents not because of information about it but because of ignorance. Considering the amount of effort the department has made to help on the situation, it will be hush to make the department a scapegoat. Is now in the hands of the nation improve road safety since most are well informed about it.
Post a Comment