AA launches road safety week
Read more: Nedbank cyclists represented at annual Youth Festival
The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated. Pedestrians account for nearly 40% of annual road fatalities in South Africa, with children aged five to 14 being among the most vulnerable. Road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of death within this age group. Cyclists, often navigating roads lacking dedicated infrastructure and proper visibility, face heightened risks of injury and fatalities. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for targeted safety interventions and infrastructure investments to protect those most at risk.
A central feature of the event will be a presentation of the 'Walking Safely to School' (WATCH) project in Mamelodi, Tshwane. This community-driven initiative, developed through a partnership between AA South Africa, ChildSafe South Africa, and supported by the FIA Foundation, demonstrates how simple yet effective infrastructure improvements can significantly reduce risks for schoolchildren. By creating safer walking routes, this project aims to promote safer, healthier, and more accessible means of travel for children heading to school.
Also read: Volvo Trucks' new safety system aims to protect cyclists, pedestrians
Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of AA South Africa, emphasised the importance of listening to communities' needs: 'The fact that so many children walk to school without suitable infrastructure is unacceptable. We need urgent, long-term investments in road safety – and that starts with engaging directly with those most affected.' The event will also feature discussions on road safety data and trends in South Africa, the existing gaps in infrastructure, and proven safety measures that can be implemented to reduce accidents involving children, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The panel will explore the lived experiences of vulnerable road users, highlighting the importance of civil society's role in shaping policies that foster safer transport environments. Lessons learned from local projects, including the Mamelodi initiative, will be shared to inspire further action. To complement the event, a digital campaign will be launched encouraging South Africans to share their walking routes, identify unsafe areas, and advocate for municipal action using hashtags such as #MakeWalkingSafe, #MakeCyclingSafe, and #SafeStreetsSA.
Through these efforts, the AA aims to raise awareness and galvanise support for safer, more inclusive streets that protect the most vulnerable. By fostering community engagement, advocating for infrastructure improvements, and promoting a culture of safety, the organisation hopes to create a lasting impact that ensures every child, pedestrian, and cyclist can navigate South African roads safely and confidently.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
Related article: A warning that help drivers from dooring cyclists
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
13 minutes ago
- IOL News
Mahindra CEO Rajesh Gupta confirms plans to bring electric vehicles to South Africa
Mahindra, one of India's largest automotive manufacturers, confirmed that it plans to introduce two electric vehicle models to the South African market. Image: Mahindra South Africa Mahindra, one of India's largest automotive manufacturers, confirmed that it plans to introduce two electric vehicle models to the South African market. The news was announced by Mahindra South Africa CEO Rajesh Gupta during the inauguration of the company's new state-of-the-art vehicle assembly plant in Durban's Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone on Tuesday. The 14,000m² facility replaces the company's previous semi-knockdown (SKD) operation and allows for full nuts-and-bolts vehicle assembly, significantly increasing production capacity and supporting the company's local growth plans. Responding to questions from the media on whether the company was considering introducing electric vehicles into the South African market in the future, Gupta said the company plans to bring two fully electric models, already launched in India, to South Africa once the local infrastructure and business conditions are favourable. 'Though I don't know whether I am supposed to reveal that good news today. The good news is that what Mahindra has done in India this year, which is about launching two very amazing pure electric vehicles, which we call 'spawn' electric vehicle. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading "One of them was showcased here on 15th August 2023. They got launched. They got an amazing booking. I think the booking was around 35,000 cars or something like that, and they are doing almost 5,000 cars in India.' However, Gupta was not able to provide a specific timeframe as to when the electric vehicles would arrive in the South African market. 'We are due to bring them here .The only matter is when, how, and what kind of approach we will take, as the country has a different perspective on electrification compared to others. So we will have to do some more tweaking on our business model, but we are extremely sure of bringing them sooner than later. That's what I can say, but I can't define any time.' IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The South African
43 minutes ago
- The South African
South African delegation heading BACK to the White House
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa will send a delegation to the White House to discuss trade tariffs with United States President Donald Trump's administration. Mashatile said the recently announced tariffs could disrupt trade flows and undermine the global competitiveness of the local automotive sector. As of 8 August 2025, a 30% tariff on all South African goods entering the United States is now in effect. 'We will continue engaging with the USA to identify practical solutions. The President will be sending the delegation once again to the White House to engage with the US administration on this matter,' he said. The country's second-in-command delivered a keynote address at the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) Show 2025, a premier forum showcasing the capabilities of the domestic automotive component manufacturing sector in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. The Deputy President touched on the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement on economic integration and industrialisation, which is projected to draw additional international investment into the African automotive industry. Creating a single continental market for goods and services could potentially lead to increased trade, investment, and job creation within Africa. 'However, this does not suggest that we do not need other nations as trading partners. We believe in diversifying our investments and engaging in trade with several partners.' The Deputy President said Cabinet is committed to protecting the economic interests of the country and is forging ahead toward strengthening the economy and dealing with the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. 'I must highlight that there will be repercussions felt throughout the entire value chain if we do not reach an amicable trade agreement with the White House.' He said it was likely that South African suppliers supporting domestic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) exporting automobiles or integrated systems to the United States will face volume reductions. 'This will put pressure on production planning, employment decisions, and investment choices.' In addition, the South African automobiles and components would see a direct rise in the landed cost in the United States market. 'Because of this, they would be unable to compete with goods from nations that have continued preferential or zero-duty access, such as those in the USMCA (United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement). 'Overall, the imposed tariffs threaten to disrupt well-established trade flows and weaken the global competitiveness of South Africa's automotive manufacturing ecosystem.' Remains steadfast However, the Deputy President believes South Africa remains resilient and steadfast in its efforts to grow and protect the economy. He called for collaboration between the government and the private sector to address the growing dependence on imports, infrastructural inadequacies, the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), and the issue of a 30% tariff increase. He praised the NAACAM for investing a lot of resources in improving the localisation, transformation, and supplier development landscape in South Africa. The automotive industry holds significant potential for shared prosperity through targeted industrial development. The sector plays a crucial role in the gross domestic product (GDP) and employment of the country. It is one of the most strategically important and internationally linked industries, accounting for 22.6% of manufacturing output and contributing 5.2% to the nation's GDP. The automotive sector employs around 115 000 people in total, with over 80 000 of these employees working in the component sector. In 2024, the component sector exported R62.5 billion of components. 'We must never allow the loss of these gains because of external and internal pressures. I say this with concern because the employment levels in the sector have been under strain due to ongoing economic pressures and reduced production volumes.' In the past two years, NAACAM has reported the closure of 12 companies, affecting over 4 000 people. The Deputy President believes that the latest unemployment figures are an indication that the nation's joblessness crisis remains an urgent concern. 'We need to do more to combat unemployment, which might include improving education and skills to match labour market demands, promoting entrepreneurship and small enterprises, and investing in public employment programs to generate jobs.' He told delegates that government is committed to working with various sectors to create employment and improve the living conditions of the people. 'As the government, we recognise the industry's significant role and see it as the backbone of our economic growth, promoting industrial development and encouraging innovation.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
WATCH: Volvo SA's MD on steering through challenges to rebuild trust and drive change
Volvo's new South African managing director, Grant Locke, spoke to us at the launch of the EX 30 Cross Country. Image: Supplied Volvo's new South African managing director, Grant Locke, has just returned from Sweden after eighteen months with a clear mission: to restore customer confidence, strengthen dealer networks, and guide the brand through our country's cautious transition to electric mobility. Speaking on the sidelines at the launch of the new Volvo EX 30 Cross Country, he said: 'As a South African, I understand the unique culture and mindset here. That gives me an advantage in helping ensure trust in the Volvo brand locally. Right now, my biggest challenge is rebuilding that trust.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Dealership restructure Earlier this year, Volvo embarked on a significant dealership restructure, aimed at improving profitability and aligning the network with market realities, but the move did create uncertainty among customers. 'When a dealership closes, people worry about servicing their cars. Marketing alone can't fix that. We need to ensure approved Volvo service coverage across the country, with trusted dealers who are close enough for convenient servicing, accessory purchases and product expertise.' First steps The first steps in this plan are already underway, with a new dealership announced for Gqeberha, and a further two as a work in progress for Nelspruit and Bloemfontein. 'It's about finding the right balance, enough volume through a dealer network to keep them profitable and sustainable, while still being accessible to customers,' he explained. Locke acknowledges a 'two-speed' challenge. Closing dealers impacts sales, reinstating them doesn't instantly boost numbers, and brand consideration must be rebuilt with the right mix of good products, solid marketing and patience. Grant Locke, Volvo SA's new Managing Director. Image: Supplied SA's electrification journey On the product side, he admits South Africa's journey toward electrification is progressing cautiously. 'Plug-in hybrids are a stepping stone into EVs, and Volvo must ensure there are options for customers in that space. Although the launch of the XC70 long-range PHEV is currently only for China, I wouldn't be surprised if Volvo considers similar long-range plug-in hybrids for other model ranges. "Other manufacturers, especially Chinese brands, are already going in that direction. Long-term, though, our strategy is still focused on BEVs,' Locke said. Resale One of the concerns about Volvo products is their resale value and the perception that it drops quickly once they leave the showroom. 'Residual values are a concern for every manufacturer. We currently offer a guaranteed future value (GFV) product to help address that, but from my perspective, I'd like to explore more solutions. 'Residual value is a key part of the total cost of ownership, and if you get it wrong, it can overshadow other factors like fuel economy. The GFV helps, but there may be more we can do, and there are global initiatives worth investigating,' Locke admitted. On a personal level, Locke says that he's here for the foreseeable future to ensure that he addresses the challenges that the brand faces. 'I'm here for the long haul. My wife is starting her PhD at Stellenbosch, so that's at least three years, and my kids are enrolling in school here,' he concluded.
