Mandela pledges support to road safety campaign

Date: 23/7/2012

Nelson Mandela has pledged his support to a campaign to improve road safety named after his 13-year-old granddaughter.

Zenani Mandela was killed in a road traffic accident two years ago when she was returning home after a concert to mark the beginning of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which was held in South Africa.

The United Nations has launched a global initiative which the campaign is a part of due to road accidents being the biggest cause of death for under-18s across the globe.

A number of organisations including the Road Safety Fund, the UN Environment Programme and the World Resources Institute have joined together as part of the Zenani Mandela campaign.

They are calling for steps to be taken in order to help protect children's safety on roads around the world, whether they are car passengers, pedestrians or travelling by bicycle.

The Decade of Action for Road Safety which was pledged at the Rio+20 Conference has made a move to bring change about.

Solutions to improve road safety suggested by the campaign include more crossings near schools, increasing the availability of cycle helmets and enforcing legislation to ensure that seatbelts are worn by children.

The former president of South Africa posed for photographs with wristbands which have been created so that people can show their support for the Zanani campaign.

It was the day after his 94th birthday, but Mr Mandela is aware that his support still has an impact due to his global reputation.

His daughter, Zindzi Mandela, said: "It is through suffering that you often find the strength to take action.

"Far too many young lives are being lost on the roads every single day. We must not stand by and accept this. We can, and must do far more to protect our children."

Accidents on the roads kill 1,000 children over the age of ten each day across the world, according to the campaign.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News