EDITOR – This is a copy of the letter written to Northern Area director of Metro Police, Ashley Dove, about the speeding problems in Chartwell Drive.
I wish to report a major problem in uMhlanga Rocks, namely vehicles speeding in Chartwell Drive. The problem is quite simple, in the area between Ocean Way and Durban View Road, this section of Chartwell Drive has become a speedway, with vehicles of all types rocketing down the street in a highly dangerous manner.
The cause is very obvious, both Ridge Road and Marine Drive, above and below the aera I am referring to, have speed bumps in place, leaving Chartwell Drive open to all traffic who wish to avoid the traffic-calming measures that are in place in those streets.
We have all manners of vehicles speeding down Chartwell Drive, Porches, Ferraris, Harley Davidsons, mini-bus taxis, night and day, and even vehicles from a local car dealership doing test runs with their new cars at top speed down this section of road.
It is very dangerous! Already we have had a car smash into a telegraph pole outside our complex, and a woman who lives in the same complex was struck by a car when exiting our driveway, both accidents were caused by speeding vehicles.
The Departments of Works and Transport have rejected our request for speed bumps, saying the stretch of road does not fit the criteria for traffic calming. If not this section of road, what does meet the requiriements?
If the departments in question came and observed what was actually happening, they, I am sure, would soon change their minds.
Until then, we request that speed traps be set in Chartwell Dive as a matter of urgency, it really is badly needed. If something is not done quite soon, there will be a horrendous accident, and at least the authorities cannot say they did not know about the problem.
Spike Farrell
uMhlanga
Director Asley Dove responds:
My apologies for not responding sooner. I have discussed the issue of speeding vehicles with our Speed Timing Section. Unfortunately, the road layout is not conducive to speed enforcement, with the current equipment used by our department.
In the interim I have tasked my staff to conduct regular patrols of the location and deal with any motorists observed committing an offence.
I shall forward a request to the local RTI office for assistance with speed timing.
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