THE implementation of speed humps on wide roads is not appropriate, Ekurhuleni Metro has pointed out.
This comes after a woman’s 10-month-old dog was ran over by a car on Quinine Street in Glen Marais on February 3.
The owner of the dog, who does not want to be named, said she was very upset as her dog could have been saved if the metro had installed speed humps on that street.
Metro spokesman, Themba Gadebe, said the department was of the opinion that other means should be investigated for a wide road like Quinine Street.
“It should be noted that physical traffic calming devices can only deal with the ‘engineering’ component of road behaviour and not with law enforcement or the education issues (motorists following the rules of the road),” Gadebe said.
“To implement traffic calming measures along a road like Quinine is to imply that speed humps should be placed at fairly regular intervals, implying that the mobility function of the road is adversely affected. Indirect implications like increased air emissions, decreased fuel efficiencies, increased noise pollution, decrease travelling time, adverse effect on emergency vehicles, increased wear and tear on vehicles, etc. will then come to the fore,” he added.
Gadebe said to solve the problem, more regular law enforcement should be considered and other means like the use of mini-circles should rather be investigated.
“Quinine Street is a racing track for drivers and it is becoming very dangerous. After complaining to the metro, a stop sign was erected but this is also not helping as cars speed up and down all day,” she said.
“The metro has previously considered mini-circles and came to the conclusion that, from an engineering point of view, mini-circles are more appropriate than speed humps for this road. Unfortunately, the current available budget has already been allocated and consideration for this type of intervention can only be given in future financial years.”
