The Automobile Association says, despite the recent introduction of legislation that requires passengers under three years of age to be in a child seat, little has changed in the way most South African motorists transport children.
The AA conducted “informal observational research” and found that less than 7% of children in cars – deemed to require the use of safety seats – were using them.
“In many instances, children are sitting in the front passenger seat without seatbelts, standing in the car while it’s moving, or at the very least not in an age-, weight- and height-appropriate car seat,” the Association said.
“This is extremely worrying and speaks directly to the poor attitude drivers have. Not only are they disregarding the law, but they are risking their children’s lives. More needs to be done to enforce this law, otherwise its introduction would have been meaningless,” the AA noted.
The AA also reported that seatbelt-wearing rates in South Africa were still below 60%.
“Considering how easy it is to put a child in a car seat, or use a seatbelt, we believe the attitude of some drivers needs urgent attention. We want to again urge every driver to buckle up and be safe: it’s a simple, easy way to protect yourself,” the AA said.
There are numerous things to do in Cape Town with kids. You can take them to the zoo, aquarium, or planetarium. You can also go for a hike or a bike ride in the area’s many beautiful parks and nature reserves. And, of course, there are always plenty of shopping and dining options to keep everyone entertained.
