Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Botswana Railways launches safety campaigns

With the festive season fast approaching, Botswana Railways has also secured a spot on Road Safety when crossing railway lines through their safety campaigns, which kick started last week, (November 7th) in Gaborone. ?The campaign is running under the banner “Don’t compromise safety”.

The Botswana Railways has taken the initiative and is currently doing the “level crossing awareness campaign” nationwide along with the “Catch them Young” awareness campaign. ?Onkopotse Moreri, Botswana Railways, senior Public Relations Officer, said, “Our main objective is to sensitize the public about their safety along the railway line.”?Through these campaigns, the safety message will be spread across all generations since the Catch Them Young part of the campaign is specifically designed for Pre primary and primary school going children. These campaigns are expected to reduce the number of casualties resulting from road level crossing accidents and ultimately increase overall road safety awareness regardless of proximity.

Moreri said there has been an escalating rate of railway line crossing accidents in the past few years.?A selection of messages regarding the safety precautions that need to be taken when crossing the road at railway lines like, “Hold the hands of children up to five years old when crossing the railway line” will be disseminated through all sorts of mediums like pamphlets and posters. It appears to be a colorful campaign with the aid of not only text but pictures too.?Botswana Railways would also like to inform members of the public that they will be working in conjunction with The Botswana Police Services and The Department of Roads Services. This is to ensure the smooth running of the operation during its course. To fulfill the campaign’s primary mandate, which is to decrease level crossing accidents, the Botswana Railways is urging motorist, pedestrians and the community at large to cooperate with them throughout the campaign.

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