Don’t dig a trench in the street, apply for a speed hump instead

You notice a little boy running across the street to pick up his soccer ball as you slow down upon approach of the next speed hump; and you are grateful that it was there.

You realise that traffic calming measures play a significant role in ensuring the safety of all road users, particularly vulnerable ones like young children.

Communities across Ekurhuleni also recognise the need and importance of these measures.
Some even go to the extent of damaging roads by unlawfully digging them up to create “speed trenches” that force motorists to slow down.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has taken note of this trend and wants residents to know that there is no need to take such action – which in some instances is driven by the lack of knowledge on the correct processes to follow to have traffic calming measures installed.

Thabo Xaba, father of a three-year-old girl from Katlehong, supports the digging of trenches and the creation of speed humps by residents on municipal tarred roads.

“Cars speed through the road, with no regard or consideration that there are children who play in the streets,” he said.

“As a driver myself, I know that a hole in the road forces a driver to slow down.”

Another community member, Lebohang Montle, who is one of those creating trenches, is frustrated by the lack of speed humps on roads in his neighbourhood.

“There have been five accidents already and one of them resulted in the death of an old man who was hit by a speeding vehicle,” said Montle.

“The funny thing is that the police and the councillor know about this problem and we have signed more than five petitions.

“Everyone was involved, the school, the church and the community members all signed but still there are no speed humps.”

Montle’s frustration is shared by many communities, however, the implementation of methods such as speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings and mini-circles is determined by a set of national guidelines.

Where a need has been identified, residents can apply by filling in a Traffic Calming Measures request form.

“The metro’s Roads and Stormwater Department evaluates every request for traffic calming measures and implements them as per the national guidelines and policies for traffic calming,” explained Phillip Nice, manager of the Roads and Storm Water departement at the municipality.

“Each request is evaluated and prioritized. When the request is warranted, the oversight committee approves the Preliminary Design Report and then the request is added to the waiting list for implementation.”

Residents are advised to ensure that the form clearly identifies the street(s) name or the affected area, the envisaged position of the traffic calming measure being applied for and a description of the nature of the problem(s).

The request form should have the signature of the ward councillor and all the supporting residents in the affected area.

Communities should take note that it may not be possible to place traffic calming measures, be it if a certain type or any at all, on all roads.

This is because of the classification of roads according to their purpose.

For instance, a Class Three road is a “higher order” road which in terms of the afore-mentioned guidelines does not warrant the installation of physical traffic calming measures.

This is because Class Three roads need to be functional as access and mobility routes.
Implementation of vigilante methods will also therefore contribute negatively towards the functionality of the roads.

Traffic Calming Measures application forms can be obtained from ward councillor’s offices.