Taxis make their own road rules
MIDRAND - Taxis have been known to be a headache for other road users for years.
Two Midrand residents said they have had enough of the reckless way some taxi drivers use the roads.
Sandra Gavin said, “It is a nightmare to get to work every morning. Allandale becomes a four-lane road in the mornings. Taxis drive on the yellow line and they also pass other cars on the gravel on the right; when they decide to get back on the road they push their way in… This is dangerous and something needs to be done to make roads safer for all who use them.”
Anso Spencer said she has lived in Vorna Valley for 27 years and enjoyed jogging. “I jog up and down Harry Gaulan from Albertyn to Seventh roads. Recently I had a hard time jogging as taxis started driving on the pavement.”
Spencer said taxi drivers do not get out of the way for anyone and they treat roads as if other road users do not exist.
National Taxi Alliance spokesperson Theo Malele said taxi drivers are not a law unto themselves. “We have taxi associations that deal with such misdemeanours. Residents must call the alliance and give the registration number of the taxi driving badly, the route and the time the taxi was seen on the road.”
Malele added that within each association there are disciplinary procedures and corrective measures that associations can take.
Metro police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane said taxi drivers driving on the yellow line are breaking the law. “We will deploy Metro police to that road and give fines to any motorists breaking the rules of the road.”
Ward 112 councillor Lerven Young said the problem of taxis is a daily one for road users. “I will take this issue with up with Metro police.”
Details: National Taxi Alliance, 011 331 9701
011 331 9701
