Reckless driving plagues Emmarentia
Emmarentia residents are increasingly concerned about reckless driving on their streets, prompting calls for immediate action from JMPD and traffic calming solutions.
Emmarentia residents are raising alarm over a series of reckless driving reports highlighting the broader issue of reckless driving that plagues the neighbourhood.
Similar to areas like Alita and Milner avenues in Roosevelt Park, more areas are suffering the same practice of reckless driving.
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Local resident Kim Dare, who lives on Louw Geldenhuys Drive directly adjacent to the Emmarentia Dam, described the situation as ‘dire’.
“Cars speed up and down this road, using it like a highway,” Dare stated. She pointed out that while the speed limit is set at 60km/h, the absence of road markings and signage makes compliance nearly impossible.
“The road markings showing the speed limit and telling people to drive slowly are non-existent. There are no road signs anymore either,” she lamented. Dare emphasised the dangers posed by speeding vehicles, particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, and fishermen who frequent the area.
“You take your life into your hands by being on this road. We often have to dodge cars speeding around the corner when we are pulling out of our driveway,” she said, underscoring the urgent need for increased safety measures.
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She called for the installation of speed bumps to promote traffic calming in the area, stating, “If the police cannot police the residents, then we need these traffic calming systems in place.”
In response to these concerns, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Superintendent Xolani Fihla acknowledged the ongoing issues with reckless driving in Emmarentia, specifically mentioning Barry Hertzog Avenue.
“We are aware that there are ongoing issues with reckless driving in that area,” Fihla stated. As part of their efforts to combat these issues, the JMPD regional office has reached out to the department’s Specialised Unit to conduct a feasibility study for installing a traffic camera on Barry Hertzog between Green Hill and The Braids.
Fihla noted that officers regularly patrol main arterial routes to monitor and address reckless driving, asserting that, “Motorists tend to comply with traffic laws more closely when they see a JMPD vehicle.”
He said, it is important to highlight that reckless driving falls under the National Road Traffic Act, which the JMPD enforces diligently as part of their mandate.
However, with community concerns mounting, residents like Dare are advocating for immediate action to improve safety and prevent further accidents in their neighbourhood.
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