Louw had a vision to build a mini course with roads and road signs, everything looking like the real thing, but on a small scale in order to teach children safety on bicycles. She needed a venue and the municipality made the old tennis course in the Rosemoor sport grounds available; she needed bicycles and Coca-Cola donated 20 of them; she needed entertainment and Coca-Cola came to the party by building a small shop, donating fridges for drinks and decorating the venue.
Last Friday the venue was officially branded as the George Junior Training Traffic Centre (JTTC) and the bicycles were handed over to Louw, the project manager.
The head of traffic services, Mr Mark Green said the JTTC aims to familiarise children with concepts, skills and attitudes related to traffic safety. "The development of the JTTC is a result of the need to make children conscious of traffic safety without exposing them to dangerous situations."
According to Green, with the centre they will aim to instil in children the acquisition of knowledge with regard to safe pedestrian behaviour, safety rules, traffic signs and road markings, relevant pedestrian skills, relevant driver skills and a positive attitude in road usage and display of this attitude at the centre.
"The JTTC will be of immense benefit to the community in that young and potential road users of all ages will gain proper road safety principles and attitudes. This will ultimately contribute to the reduction of pedestrian fatalities on our roads," said Green.
At the handover of 20 bicycles for the George Junior Training Traffic Centre are, from left: Ophelia Veldkornet (Coca-Cola), Iona Kritzinger (portfolio councillor for community services), Mark Green (head of traffic services), Lawrence Cedras, Ronald Fernol, Arnold Taute and Mornay Smit (all from Coca-Cola).
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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