An Observatory woman who started a road-safety non-profit after a drunk driver killed her son has been invited to speak at a road-safety summit in Pretoria, but she needs help getting there.
Alida Venter, 64, started Drive More Safely in 2009 after her son, Tommie Kloppers, was killed in the head-on collision. He was 20.
Ms Venter, who is originally from Welkom, has also previously worked as a driving instructor.
“We are not training people to be safe drivers, and that is when I realised that I want to start this organisation and make the roads a safe place,” she said.
Drive More Safely helps those who have lost loved ones on the country’s roads; it assists with Road Accident Fund claims and crash investigations and it lobbies government on road safety. Its Danny Cat Club teaches school pupils about road safety.
The 12th Annual Road Safety Summit will be held from Tuesday and Wednesday November 17 an 18.
“My aim at the summit is to let those in power know that non-profits play a big role in road safety,” Ms Venter said.
“We are the eyes and ears of the community and believe that the government departments can learn a lot from us.
“The heartbreak of losing a loved one we know first hand.”
However Covid-19 and the lockdown have taken their toll on Drive More Safely and Ms Venter is battling to raise R3500 to book a flight and accommodation to attend the summit. Email Alida@drivemoresafely.co.za or visit https://drivemoresafely.co.za/ if you would like to help.
