CONCERNED RESIDENT in Birchleigh North writes:
The article in Kempton Express, “Student is lucky to lose only her lunch in smash and grab“, refers:
Very sad that these things happen and to such a young person. No matter how vigilant you are, you will always remain a target.
In some places, we the motorists, are warned about hijack and smash and grab hot spots. So, where are the police? Visible policing is proven over and over to work.
In your article, Capt Jethro Mtshali from Kempton Park SAPS said, and I quote: “Also, if it is at night and you’re driving alone and come across an intersection, do not stop at a red traffic light. Rather yield, especially if there aren’t any other cars on the road.” Wow.
I hope Capt Mtshali realises what he said we, the public, must do. I know many already do that and more will do it now. I want to know, is his suggestion legal?
I doubt it very much. If I, my wife, or whoever, get caught driving over a red light as stated, can I use this newspaper article in court? I doubt it will be accepted by a judge. It could be used as mitigation and the fine might be halved?
I will make sure my family and I now always have a copy of this newspaper article in the cubby hole though.
From another angle, maybe more police tell the public the same story, or maybe it was published in the Government Gazette and is legal?
I lately rather stop or slow down at a green light (even if I have right of way). I treat these crossings as unsafe and treat a green light as a yield sign, as one is never sure if crossing over will be safe.
Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesman, replies:
Approaching any intersection, even when the traffic light is in one’s favour, it is important to do quick lateral checks to ensure it is safe to go through the intersection.
Let your readers out there not misconstrue my colleague from the police’s statement that a red light can be jumped at night when it is safe, as a licence to willy-nilly go through a red traffic light without taking the necessary precautions.
It must be interpreted in the context that if it is late at night, and there are visibly suspicious-looking characters, or probably overgrown vegetation from where some person can appear suddenly, the driver approaching the intersection must slow down just enough to ensure that it is safe to go through safely or make U-turn.
One tactic to use is that when it’s at night and approaching a red light, slow down drastically to kill time so that by the time you reach the intersection, the light has turned to green.
There is nothing in any law or statute book that provides for shooting a red light just because it is at night. My colleague was merely emphasising the importance of being hawk-eyed at night and ensuring that despite fear of danger of making a dead stop, it would be okay to go through as long as there are no vehicles from side streets. Safety is key when going through a red light, based on drivers observed potential danger to themselves.
If motorists have received a spot summons or a notice for camera violation, they have some kind of recourse. They can approach the senior public prosecutor to lodge a complaint or complete a representation at the court, requesting the withdrawal of a fine received based on “valid” reasons.
The SPP will decide as to whether the fine warrants withdrawal, halving, or it stands.
Motorists are advised to practice the art of defensive driving as well as ensuring that they are observant at all times whenever on our public roads.
High visibility patrols, particularly in problematic areas, is part of officers’ daily patrol lives. Reality is that law enforcers cannot be at every intersection and at all the on and turn-offs of our freeways.
We have about 3 000 officers who are never simultaneously on duty at any given time to cover the vast area of Ekurhuleni.
