With the amount of pothole issues in the Fourways area, the mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba has recently revealed his plans to alleviate pothole problems by awarding R88 million to address the repair backlog across the city.
In an effort to enhance service delivery, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has also launched a new mobile app called, Find & Fix, to allow citizens to quickly and easily report road-related defects such as potholes, missing manhole covers and defective traffic signals.
READ These road safety campaigns will make you think
This is according to Christelle Colman, chief executive officer of Europ Assistance South Africa, an insurance company, which stated that potholes cause major frustration among motorists as they can cause severe damage to a vehicle when it hits the pothole and the driver can be left stranded next to the road due to tyre punctures, rim impairments, damaged wheel alignment or suspension.
“In extreme cases, vehicles can be written off and the occupants can be badly injured. By having roadside assistance services in place the motorists will at least have peace of mind that help is on its way should their vehicle not be driveable after hitting a pothole,” Colman said who added that it was however worrying that the roads agency recently announced that it will need R1.38 billion per year for the next decade to be able to repair all the roads in the province.
“Due to the lack of maintenance, 48 per cent of the roads in the area are classified as being in poor or very poor condition,” she explained.
In the event of hitting a pothole that causes damage to the vehicle, Colman urged motorists to contact their emergency roadside assistance provider immediately. She explained that this service could prove to be extremely beneficial to the motorist, especially when considering personal safety.
“Should a motorist be travelling at night it is increasingly difficult to spot and avoid potholes and if they are stranded late at night in a deserted or dangerous area, this service can prove to be the difference between life and death,” Colman said.
She further added that the roads in the deserted areas are generally in a worse condition compared to the highways, therefore the driver faces a bigger risk of hitting a pothole in those areas, leaving them stranded in a dangerous area.
“Being stuck next to the road after hitting a pothole can become a very traumatic experience, but by having an emergency roadside assistance provider on speed-dial – this trauma and stress can be reduced significantly. This initiative is, however, a great first stride in making the country’s roads safer for all road users, with the aim of reducing the number of accidents and consequently also fatalities,” Colman concluded.
Does your area have any potholes? Send us your pictures to @Fourways_Review.
