City agrees to speed bumps outside school

SPEED BUMPS are to be implemented outside Morningside Primary school at the intersection of Peter Mokaba and Sir Arthur Roads. The decision to implement the speed bumps has been tabled by eThekwini Municipality.

This comes after many requests by the school principal, Des Friedrichs and ward councillor Martin Meyer, to install speed bumps in Peter Mokaba Road to slow down motorists who speed down the road.

According to Lemo Monyatsi, Senior Manager or Traffic Engineering at eThekwini Municipality, the request for speed humps outside the school along Trematon Drive was not supported as this is a high order (Class 3) road.

“Speed humps will, however, be implemented outside the school along Sir Arthur Road. This will be prioritised in the 2014/15 financial year subject to funds availability,” said Monyatsi.

Des Friedrichs said he felt speed humps in Sir Arthur Road would only act as a deterrent for collisions between cars and would in no way prevent children from being run over.

“Vehicles travelling from town towards the school will certainly be slowed down before arriving at the congested area outside the school gate. Vehicles leaving Peter Mokaba Road along Sir Arthur will arrive at the congested area before ‘hitting’ their first speed hump. This is the area where children are most vulnerable. Then again, any help is better than none!” he said.

“That whole area is a concern,”said councillor Myer. “The traffic, motorists speeding as they pass the school and old age home and the large number of taxis that park there are a cause of concern for residents,” he said. “Morningside Primary and Robert Storm Home are ongoing concerns for me. The city has rejected every application by myself and my predecessor, Prof George Devenish for traffic calming in Peter Mokaba Road. I will however continue to fight for this road, as I feel it is vital.”