Metro has plans to educate truck drivers

A JOINT programme of education will be launched by the city's eThekwini Transport Authority to bring drivers of heavy duty vehicles up to speed with tips of general road safety.

This is according to Metro Police, who were responding to queries regarding heavy trucks using residential roads in Glenwood and Umbilo.

On Wednesday last week, the driver of a truck had just finished reporting an accident at the Umbilo Police Station when he decided to continue towards the harbour by travelling along Esther Roberts (Frere) Road.

The driver was making his way up the steep hill, and didn't notice the low hanging tree branches which collided with the cab of the truck. A branch also broke off, falling into the road and causing an obstruction.

According to witnesses, the driver stopped the truck and got out to move the branch to the side of the road, and then attempted to continue on his way up the hill. However, the weight of the full load of export oranges pulled the truck back down the hill and the driver lost control of the vehicle. The trailer collided with the entrance to the church in the road, and the container overturned, blocking the road completely.

Incidents of heavy trucks using the roads have been the cause for concern for many residents in the area. Residents in Teignmouth and Hillier Road have complained about the trucks using the road and parking in the road, sometimes blocking the entrances to their properties.

An Umbilo resident also recently complained about the number of trucks double and triple parked along Sydney Road, which makes this area extremely hazardous and sometimes almost impassable at night.

Vanessa Burger said the number of parked trucks had reduced Sydney Road by two lanes on some days, which she said must have a considerable impact on local businesses and air quality.

She said the truckstop/garage opposite Dalton Hostel was often totally gridlocked and unusable for obtaining fuel.

“In addition to the homeless man who was killed by a truck recently outside Dalton Hostel, I witnessed another three near misses during a one-hour long meeting at the hostel. Trucks narrowly missed residents crossing the road in the evening when they were returning from work. Because of the parked trucks lining both sides of the road, oncoming traffic is obscured to pedestrians who take their lives in their hands each time they cross the road. There are also many children who live at the hostel and cross Sydney Road twice daily to catch taxis to and from school,” she said.

Burger said Metro Police were very rarely seen attending to the truck problem in this area.

Ward councillor Nicole Graham, said she was waiting for Metro Police to get back to her regarding this issue. “Metro needs to improve its strategy and efforts,” she said.

Morgan Subramoney from Metro Police said an enforcement programme was in place at locations within the Umbilo/Glenwood precinct which included Sydney Road, Umbilo Road and Teignmouth Road. “Where drivers are present, the trucks are moved along with an education where not to park,” he said.

He said there were spikes of illegal parking by truckers during seasons for citrus export, then grain and fertilizer. He said there were limited parking facilities available for heavy vehicles and the close relationship of the Port did not help the situation.

“The city is working together with the Port authorities on a programme to increase parking capacity for heavy duty vehicles. In the interim we will continue with enforcement. I thank you for bringing this matter to my notice,” he said.