Premier, Mobility Minister launch Junior Traffic Training Centre in Paarl
Today, Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, and Minister of Mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, officially launched a new Junior Traffic Training Centre at Nederburg Primary School in Paarl, in partnership with the Drakenstein Municipality. They were joined by a group of Grade 3 learners who tested out the course of painted roads and traffic signs.
The purpose of this training facility is to teach young learners about road safety in a play environment, without exposing them to the dangers of real traffic situations. Children can practice crossing a road safely, navigating traffic as a cyclist, or interacting with pedestrians as a motorist.
Minister Mackenzie said, “This is the 36th Junior Traffic Training Centre that our Mobility Department’s Road Safety Management team has launched across the Western Cape. Each one of these Training Centres is a demonstration of our commitment to road safety and reducing the number of children who are hurt or killed on the roads. I trust that this facility will enable young learners to become experts in road safety and motivate them to educate their families and communities about how to look out for all the other people using the road.”
Premier Alan Winde said, "We must start educating our children from early in their lives to behave responsibly on our roads. By raising awareness while they are young, we can develop future generations of responsible road users, and in doing this we can prevent and reduce tragedies. With this Junior Traffic Training Initiative, we are making road safety relatable, immersive and, more importantly, fun for our children. There is no bigger priority than keeping children safe, whether at school, home or in public places like roads. We are investing a lot of resources into seeing that our youth are indeed safe wherever they go. I hope what they learn can even be passed on to their parents, guardians and other adults."
Media Queries:
Rebecca Campbell
Spokesperson for Minister Ricardo Mackenzie
076 783 2583 or Rebecca.Campbell@westerncape.gov.za