Ward 93 councillor Rufas Maswazi said poor traffic light programming is a major contributor to ongoing safety concerns at the intersection of Cedar Road and Down Steyn Drive, near Steyn City school, as residents and parents continue to raise alarm over frequent accidents in the area.

Maswazi said the turning arrow for vehicles accessing school routes flashes only briefly, creating a dangerous conflict between vehicles turning into school entrances and traffic travelling straight through the intersection. “The short turning sequence places parents and motorists in danger because oncoming traffic often cuts through while vehicles are attempting to turn.”

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He also raised concerns about taxis illegally using the yellow chevron lane to bypass traffic signals, which reduces visibility for motorists and increases the likelihood of collisions.

Growing frustrated over these dangers, residents led an on-site meeting with Maswazi, a representative from Steyn City School, and a few concerned parents, to assess the situation firsthand. Maj Saffari, resident and parent, said the community’s call for intervention was driven by the growth in serious crashes over recent months.

“Almost every morning, one can expect a serious accident to happen due to speeding and unruly drivers, especially taxis.” He highlighted several alarming incidents that have occurred over the past four months. In one case, a teacher’s vehicle was struck by a speeding taxi that allegedly jumped a red traffic light, causing the vehicle to overturn and land on its roof.

In another incident, a group of cyclists was hit by a taxi, resulting in one fatality and serious injuries to others. More recently, a mother and her young child were struck when a taxi allegedly ran a red light, forcing their vehicle into another car.

Saffari believes reckless taxi behaviour and heavy traffic volumes are key contributors to the crisis. Drivers are allegedly ignoring traffic regulations due to pressure to collect passengers quickly, while traffic congestion continues to worsen along Cedar Road.

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“The roads have turned into battlefields. I fear for the safety of my family and fellow citizens. Fatal accidents, road rage, and violence between motorists are becoming very real concerns.”

Maswazi confirmed that the matter has been escalated to the Gauteng provincial department of roads and transport (GPDRT) and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to strengthen law enforcement and improve safety visibility in the area.

Residents are calling for several urgent interventions, including synchronising traffic lights, installing an additional traffic signal at a nearby intersection to reduce speeding, introducing school zone warning signage, installing speed cameras, and increasing JMPD presence during peak traffic periods.

Fourways Review reached out to JMPD and the GPDRT for comment and will update the story once responses are received.

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