By Annalise Kempen
Image created by CoPilot
Regular travel or commuting is part of most people’s lives, whether travelling between home and work or school, going to the shops, visiting medical facilities, or visiting family or friends. In South Africa, thousands of commuters depend on public transport, but to reach their bus, train or taxi, they often have to walk long distances. South Africa also has thousands of avid cyclists, runners and joggers who spend a lot of time on public roads.
Pedestrians, runners, joggers and cyclists are the most vulnerable road users. They must also take responsibility for their own safety and be more considerate of their actions while using public roads.
Across the world, as many as one in every five road deaths are of pedestrians (WHO, 2013). Arrive Alive (nd) puts that figure much higher for our country, stating that “road crash fatality data reveals that approximately 35-40% of road deaths in SA are pedestrian deaths”. When the reality hits home that it could have been you or me, a family member or a colleague, we may pay more attention to pedestrian safety. We are all pedestrians.
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: November 2026. This article is available for purchase.]