In a bold move to tackle the critical issue of road safety, Suzuki Auto South Africa has joined forces with FleetMax Africa to launch an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing road safety awareness across the country. The campaign, dubbed “DriveSMART with Suzuki,” will leverage Suzuki’s digital platforms to disseminate crucial road safety education and drive change in a region plagued by alarming accident statistics.
South Africa’s roads are notoriously perilous, with over 14,000 fatalities annually and countless more individuals suffering severe injuries. Tragically, young people are disproportionately affected by these accidents. This sobering reality has prompted Ashref Ismail, CEO of FleetMax Africa, to spearhead the campaign with a clear mission: “We want to change that.”
FleetMax Africa, a leading South African transport consultancy, brings a wealth of expertise to the partnership. With a team of seasoned professionals in transport, traffic management, and road safety, FleetMax is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change. Ismail, with over two decades of experience in road safety education and traffic law enforcement, emphasizes the economic burden of road accidents, which exceeds R150 billion annually.
Suzuki’s commitment to road safety extends beyond this new initiative. The automaker is also working with Wheel Well, a notable organization focused on child road safety. Suzuki’s support for Wheel Well’s Halo Beanie project aims to mitigate child pedestrian fatalities by providing reflective beanies to children in rural areas, thereby enhancing their visibility and safety on the roads.
The DriveSMART with Suzuki campaign will see Suzuki provide two Grand Vitara GLX models for use in an extensive series of training programs and road safety videos. These videos, ranging from two to three minutes each, will cover over 120 essential road safety topics, including defensive driving and vehicle maintenance. The content will be shared across social media channels and other platforms, maximizing its reach and impact.
Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa, highlights the long-term vision of the initiative: “These videos will have a long shelf life and can be shared freely across our social channels and those of our partners, as well as other companies that share our concern with vehicle safety.” Carpenter’s goal is to make car ownership and driving a positive, liberating experience for young people, reinforcing the campaign’s overarching message of safety and freedom.
Through this collaborative effort, Suzuki and FleetMax Africa aim to reshape road safety culture in South Africa, turning the tide of traffic accidents and fostering a safer driving environment for all.
