The Road Accident Fund reports an average of 1 200 road deaths annually among school-aged children, aged 5 to 19.

Now, the child safety non-governmental organisation (NGO) Wheel Well is calling for urgent action. “These deaths are preventable,” said founder Peggy Mas. “Children can’t judge traffic, they rely on us to protect them. We need proper car seats, visibility gear, and adult supervision.”

Wheel well is aiming for zero child road deaths. This Friday, the organisation will be at the East Rand mall, Johannesburg, handing out 30 car seats and helping parents install them correctly.

The NGO is also urging the public to donate unused car seats through its Car Seats for Kids campaign. In another initiative, the Halo Beanie drive distributes reflective, warm beanies to keep children safe and visible.

“Every child deserves to arrive at school safely,” said Mas. “Let’s do better.”

--ChannelAfrica--