Seatbelt Convincer: Experiencing the Power of Protection
At the African Brain Child Research Initiative, our work is driven by a simple but urgent reality: injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for children over the age of five. In South Africa, many of these injuries occur on our roads.
Through our public health campaign Be Quick to Click, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of wearing seatbelts and using appropriate child restraints. Our clinical work at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital has revealed a deeply concerning trend: among children admitted to the ICU with severe head injuries sustained as passengers in road traffic accidents, only 4 out of 100 were wearing a seatbelt.
These injuries are largely preventable. Yet despite decades of messaging about road safety, seatbelt use—particularly for children—remains alarmingly low. Changing this behaviour requires more than words. It requires experiences that make the risks real.
How can we reach the child before the child reaches us
A Hands-On Road Safety Exhibit
To bring this message to life, the African Brain Child Research Initiative partnered with the Cape Town Science Centre to design and install a Seatbelt Convincer — a simulator that allows participants to experience the force of a collision while safely secured by a seatbelt.
Although the simulator travels at only 6 km/h, it powerfully demonstrates the crash forces a passenger would experience at everyday driving speeds. By physically feeling the sudden stop and the restraint of the seatbelt, participants gain a deeper understanding of how seatbelts protect the body during a collision.
This interactive exhibit is designed to reach thousands of learners who visit the Science Centre each year, transforming road safety education into an engaging and memorable experience.
Launching a Tool for Behaviour Change
The Seatbelt Convincer was officially launched on 18 March 2026 at the University of Cape Town’s Neuroscience Institute, bringing together partners from research, health care, education, and local government who share a commitment to protecting children on our roads.
The exhibit represents an important step forward in the Be Quick to Click campaign. By combining scientific evidence with experiential learning, we aim to create lasting behaviour change and strengthen a culture of road safety not only among children but also within families and communities.
Children who experience the exhibit are encouraged to become advocates for their own safety—reminding parents, caregivers, and drivers to be quick to click before every journey.
A seatbelt... A simple, silent covenant between a driver and a child that says: I see you. I will protect you. Your life matters to me more than my inconvenience. - UCT DVC Prof Majozi
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Impact
Buckle up every child, every trip, every time. - Minister Wenger
The one thing you can control.. is wearing your safety belt. - Alderman JP Smith
The launch of the Seatbelt Convincer marks only the beginning of a broader effort to improve seatbelt use and protect children and families on South Africa’s roads.
We were honoured to have Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, and JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security in the City of Cape Town, in attendance at the launch. Their support highlights the growing recognition that road safety is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration across sectors.
Following the launch, discussions have begun around expanding the reach of the Seatbelt Convincer within the city and beyond. One of the next steps being explored is the use of the seatbelt convincer at city road shows, basket of services and career Expo’s. These installations would allow the simulator to reach a wider audience, including drivers interacting with traffic departments, road safety programmes, and community outreach initiatives.
By designing the seatbelt convincer to be mobile we aim to influence drivers and road users from across the city and potentially the country—making the experience accessible to people from all walks of life.
It Takes a Village to Protect a Child
There is an African saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.” We believe that it also takes a village to protect a child.
Road safety is a shared responsibility. Through partnerships with educators, policymakers, community organisations, and the public, we hope to expand the reach of this initiative and continue building a culture where wearing a seatbelt is automatic.
Every journey should begin with one simple action:
Be quick to click.
