Motorists flout laws on Main Road

Diana Brett said the intersection of Lonehill Boulevard and Main Road is a nightmare for cars turning right. “A lot of the drivers are turning and blocking the intersection so that other cars can’t go past,” Brett said. “Drivers also get very aggressive and swear and hoot.”

Alex Hegland was unhappy about taxi behaviour on Main Road. “The scores of taxis are a law unto themselves as they ignore the long lines of vehicles and simply drive along the road verges,” he said.

Hegland said taxi drivers push into queues of vehicles when arriving at an intersection. “Heaven help a motorist who refuses to let them into the line,” he said. Hegland mentioned that on Main Road, taxis cross over barrier lines to overtake cars, use emergency lanes and drive through red traffic lights. He added that other motorists, apart from taxi drivers, are guilty of disregarding the directional arrows at the intersection of Witkoppen Road and Main Road.

David Foley, chairperson of the Douglasdale Community Police Forum’s Sector 4, said motorists on Main Road are behaving in a similar fashion to taxis as they see there is no recourse, which has led to an increased number of road rage incidents in recent months.

Foley said discussions with Metro police with regards to heavy fines being implemented and taxis being impounded, based on the seriousness of the violations, has become complicated as Gautrans need to be present to impound taxis during sting operations.

“We are having regular meetings with Metro police, Douglasdale police and the ward councillors at the Douglasdale Police Station where we are strategising various plans to improve the behaviour of drivers and ensure transgressors are addressed,” Foley said.

Superintendent Edna Mamonyane, spokesperson for Metro police, said they always do operations and show visibility in areas they get complaints from, however they cannot be in one specific area all the time. She confirmed that Gautrans does need to be present when impounding taxis and said fines are not dictated by Metro police as they are bylaw enforcers, not the creators of bylaws.

Foley said the community needs to support Metro police and report officers that are not doing their jobs and in this way the performance of Metro police will be addressed. He encouraged residents to visit the Douglasdale Community Police Forum website and post comments for follow up.

Details: www.ddcpf.co.za