Letter: Reverse lights in the sheza lane at Tongaat toll a nuisance

Karen Doveton of Salt Rock writes:

Coming back yesterday along the N2, I had another episode of cars reversing through the Tongaat toll plaza fast lane or ‘Sheza lane’. Please see message below posted on the Ballito Traffic site while sitting in the SHEZA lane coming back from the airport, on my way to work.

posted @10h03 on 4/NOV/2019

“I am stationary in the SHEZA LANE, Tongaat toll plaza, north bound- yet again.

A vehicle is in the sheza lane, with no tag. 10 vehicles and trucks behind said vehicle…..this happens all the time. Can we not get the traffic dept. or SANRAL to fine these vehicles?? Instead of constantly having to reverse 10 cars and trucks in Order to get thru what is supposed to be the FAST lane?? So frustrating –”

This seems to be a constant issue with the result that this so called “FAST LANE” is never fast, and seems to always have vehicles in this lane with no clue as to what the SHEZA LANE means or else if they do know, they couldn’t care less and blatantly block the traffic thinking it will be faster for them.

It seems so obvious, but PLEASE could the Tongaat SANRAL management team put more signage up and demarcate the lane more clearly, way before approaching the toll plaza, as a matter of urgency?

There is ample opportunity to put at least four signs up on the right hand side of the fast lane to indicate that this is a DEDICATED LANE for TAG HOLDERS only. Further to this, road signs erected intermittently on the Left side of the road, well before the toll plaza is reached, would help notify drivers.

We came through many tolls yesterday ( driving from JHB to Durban) and the rest of the toll plazas on route, are way better sign posted, and have much BIGGER signs than the Tongaat toll plaza, so delays in the Sheza lane are not an issue at other tolls.

As a last resort, please could there be dedicated SANRAL or traffic department personnel monitoring this fast lane in peak hours and now especially with the holiday season coming up?

Vehicles in this lane can be checked for tags and moved out of the lane WAY BEFORE they reach the boom to avoid a whole line of cars having to reverse to let drivers out of the lane.

The end goal I would think, is to do whatever it takes to ensure the fast lane can move unimpeded, and rapidly, as it should. Or else, what’s the point…?

I look forward to hearing a response from SANRAL.

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