TV drama highlights road deaths

A new drama series, Ingozi, kicks off on Sunday on SABC1, aimed at promoting road safety, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters said yesterday.

The series will help the public understand their role in reducing the high road fatalities in the country, she said.

The latest statistics released by the transport department showed 1 714 people were killed on South African roads between December 1, last year and January 9.

This was a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

Peters said the 30-minute long drama will will run until May 7. It was produced by the Duma Ndlovu and features Xolile Tshabalala and Jet Novuka, among others.

The department and the Road Traffic Management Corporation partnered with Word of Mouth productions to develop the 13part series.

“Using a television drama to deliver the message is unique. Road safety and fatalities has never been addressed on such a platform before,” said Peters.

“I have no doubt that road safety education that starts at an early age and that uses popular technology and media platforms should be one of the core focus areas in assisting us to turn the tide on road safety.”

Peters said her department realised the worldview and experiences of our young people were changing continuously.

“We now live in the era of social media, of free WiFi and of video-on-demand. If our road safety messages are not sufficiently fresh and creative they will get lost in the clutter of competing ideas.”

The series is also intended to persuade road users to stop bad behaviour, particularly by the youth, that may contribute to road accidents. Statistics indicate that road fatalities are highest in the age group 20 – 40. – ANA