ROAD SAFETY IN BOJANALA DISTRICT HOSTS AWARENESS ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
07 May 2026
Tlokweng – Department of Community Safety and Transport Management has intensified efforts to promote pedestrian safety following alarming statistics revealing that pedestrians account for 40.3% of all road traffic fatalities recorded in the province during the 2024/2025 period.
The Department further highlighted that approximately 70% of pedestrian related crashes occur directly on roadways which places vulnerable road users at heightened risk.
The Directorate of Road Safety in the Bojanala District therefore hosted a continuation of Local Action today in Tlokweng, Silverkrans as part of activities aligned with the 2025 Global Road Safety Week campaign under the theme: “Make Walking and Cycling Safe.” The awareness initiative aimed to mobilise local communities and encourage safer road behaviour among motorists, pedestrians, passengers and motorcycle riders.
Participants kicked off the session with a 2 kilometer journey from Raleoto to Tsholofelo Community Centre by taking part in a simulated exercise that showed the challenges faced by persons with disabilities. They journeyed whilst wearing visual impairment gear, using mobility aids and moving with physical limitations. The purpose of this exercise is to create awareness around the daily dangers experienced by vulnerable pedestrians and to encourage road users to be more considerate towards persons with disabilities road users.
Speaking after the walk, one of the participants, Ms Moloko Kgari who was blindfolded and gripping a walking stick had to navigate the roads as a blind person. She described the experience as both emotional and educational. “Today’s awareness walk was an eye opening experience. As one of the participants who took on the challenge of walking in the streets as a persons with disabilities, every step on the road felt like an obstacle. The sounds of buses zooming by at high speed sent shivers down my spine because i was uncertain of the level of danger I could possibly be in. The walk felt like a routine and most certainly dangerous because some road users showed no kindness or patience on the road. What seems ordinary to many of us can be a daily struggle for others,” she said.
Moreover, she appealed to all road users to show compassion and exercise greater caution. “I ask every road user to slow down, be patient and look out for those who face challenges you may not see. Kindness goes a long way,” she added.
In curbing the rising pedestrian road fatalities, participants were educated on pedestrian safety measures such as using the “Look, Listen, Decide” (LLD) method before crossing roads. The department provided them with reflective gear and urged them to wear it at all times when walking beside the road. This is to improve their visibility to all road users.
Director of District Development Model in Bojanala District, Mr Frans Mabokela noted that in order for roads to be safer for pedestrians, the collaborative efforts of traffic officials and pedestrians is important.
“For our roads to be safer, we need visibility of our traffic officers on the roads and road users, to ensure the safety of roads for all of us, we need to equip ourselves with knowledge of road rules and do away with reckless road behaviour or negative attitudes on the road. In that way, we promote safety for all”, he said.
Stakeholders in attendance were Office of the Premier, Department of Social Development, King of Sorrow Funeral Support Services, Metropolitan and South African National Council for the Blind.
