The youngsters, as you may have heard it said, are the leaders of the future. Therefore, Bobby Nitro cannot think of a better way to spread a message than reaching young people first.
A provincial department, in conjunction with other organisations, seems to understand this precept quite clearly, as they came together to spread the important message of road safety.
This past Friday, the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works hosted a road safety information day at the Killarney International Raceway, where they brought together hundreds of young people from campuses and youth organisations across the Western Cape.
The department got the other road safety stakeholders in on the day, including representatives from traffic and police, Radio Good Hope, our very own DJ Ready D and the Safer Roads 4All (SR4A) campaign, South Africa against Drunk Driving, Nicro, Masterdrive, Goodyear Tyres and eKasi Motorcycle Club.
This initiative was different to the usual ones in that it really targeted the people who need to hear this kind of information.
After all, of the 30 people that die in crashes in and around Cape Town every weekend, most are youth.
So a safety initiative that focuses on young people is spot on.
Des Eason, the executive manager of Killarney, was on hand to welcome the crowd. He told of the history of the track, and how it had developed out of a disused section of road in 1947 to the motorsport facility it is today, hosting some 200 events a year.
He said that the raceway was proud of its contribution to road safety. It holds track schools where drivers can learn how to really handle a vehicle at speed, both two and four wheel, and to know how to handle themselves when something goes wrong.
Expert tuition and the controlled environment make this all possible.
Then, of course, Street2Strip racing remains a great help in getting dicing off the streets and onto the track. After years of this pilot initiative, Killarney, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, is now opening the drag strip to the drag racers every Wednesday night for robot racing. That’s big news right there, and a way to get your thrills without endangering lives.
INTERACTIVE: Atlantis group enjoys fun and informative activities
The day was geared to provide info and entertainment.
Groups of young people moved excitedly from activation to activation. There were static displays of simulated accident scenes, so that people know just how serious this topic is, as well as “drunk goggles” that show you in real time just how impossible it is to have coordination when dronk. Great way to teach a lesson.
DJ Ready D brought his crew of experienced drivers for a Drift and Spin
display that included a graphic demonstration of why “you should not try this on the street”.
The MasterDrive activations left deep impressions.
In the first one, an instructor showed just how long it takes to stop a car travelling at 60km/* then at 120km/* . Most of the people there were astonished at how they had got the stopping distance so wrong.
In the second activation the notorious Skid Monster - a small hatchback with castor-mounted rear wheels - showed just how quickly even a modern car can get out of control. On a spinning pitch, it’s great fun; on the public road, it’s a recipe for disaster.
For the hard facts, departmental minister Bonginkosi Madikizela made the point that road crashes cost SA billions every year, money that could better be spent.
Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa said these tragedies affected him on a very personal level as he was always the first one to receive the call for multiple victim crashes.
As much as it was the responsibility of government to catch and punish offenders, he said, it was young people’s responsibility to change the culture.