Following an alarming report that up to 17 000 people are annually killed on South African roads, Jonsson Workwear has committed to give away three million high-visibility belts over the next three years. This is as part of its VIZI Belt initiative.
A spokesperson for Jonsson Workwear – a leading provider of quality, durable workwear, designed to keep people safe while hard at work – says its High Viz range of protective workwear has been used to combat lowlight conditions in a range of environments.
This, amid statistics that 27 million people use South African roads daily with the majority, including workers and students, being on their daily commute. The company therefore believes that safety on roads should be a discussion all South Africans should be having.
After all, poor road and public transport infrastructure, lack of road safety education and inadequate street lighting are among the causes of the accidents seen on roads.
A report from the University of Cape Town’s centre for transport studies reveals that 47 people are killed on South African roads every day. The report goes on to show that the main cause of child deaths in the country are a result of road accidents.
“We cannot simply ignore these statistics and must rally together to affect change and protect people on our roads,” says Jonsson Workwear’s chief executive officer and executive chairman, Nick Jonsson.
For years, Jonsson Workwear has been the leading provider of quality, durable workwear, designed to keep people safe while hard at work. Aware that poor visibility on the roads increases the number of accidents, the company together with The Jonsson Foundation are embarking on an initiative to protect all road users by increasing their visibility thereby reducing the risks of road accidents.
By giving away three million high visibility belts, the company works towards keeping vulnerable pedestrians and motorists safe, and prevent tragedies on roads.
The Jonsson VIZI Belts are described as fit for any pedestrian activity, whether commuting to school and work, walking a dog, crossing the street, or heading out for a jog. The belts’ versatility has made them adaptable to be worn around the waist, over the shoulder or tied onto a bag.
“Our road stats are a sombre reminder for all of us to continuously advocate for road safety, which sadly receives minimal attention,” says Jonsson.
“We would like to raise awareness on this critical topic and aim to empower people to be safe and feel safe as pedestrians. We encourage individuals, communities, non -profit organisations, and small businesses to jump on board with us and work together to drive this movement forward. By working together, we can create a brighter future for South Africa.”
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