BLANTYRE--The National Road Safety Council of Malawi says its initiative which allows pupils to act like traffic wardens in traffic regulation at designated crossing points has proved beneficial to the pupils as they acquire knowledge about traffic rules and regulations.

The organization’s publicist, Chisomo Chibwana, told the Malawi News Agency that apart from reduction of road accidents in the prone areas, the initiative had acted as a learning process for the pupils to internalize traffic rules and regulations.

“We encourage pupils to take part in this because they also learn a lot from the exercise which helps them with their studies,” said Chibwana.

She added: “We go to schools that are in areas prone to road accidents and train them with their patrons and other teachers. Thereafter we give them scholar patrol equipment which they use. This equipment is bought using our funds or donated by BP (now Puma).”

She said only schools in critical locations are the ones that are targeted saying other interested schools can pursue the initiative on their own.

Mastaf Malisawo, a teacher at Mpatso Private School in Chirimba, said while undertaking the initiative the hurdle they face is where drivers tend to ignore their instructions and insult them.

“Sometimes drivers, mostly those in minibuses, disregard our calls and go to the extent of shouting at us,” said Malisawo.

Traffic accidents claim many lives on Malawi’s treacherous roads. Civic education and installation of road signs is an ongoing exercise to help reduce accidents.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment.