Driver behaviour needs to change

The traffic congestion and driver behaviour on Main Street close to Bordeaux Primary School is a worrying predicament.

There are traffic lights, speed humps and visible signage but both public and private drivers are apparently not obeying the rules of the road and thereby putting pupils lives in danger.

One of the drivers who regularly uses the road complained that the school should intensify efforts to ensure safety of the pupils.

Nick Swart complained that speeding, driver behaviour and pupils crossing the road without adult supervision, pose a danger to pupils.

Swart even suggested that the trees should be trimmed to improve driver visibility. “Both the school and parents should create awareness and be proactive,” he explained.

Bordeaux North Community Forum (BNCF) chairperson, Shanaaz Bailey said the community initially got two speed humps constructed on Main Street. “We paid for those speed humps from our own pockets but driver behaviour has not changed,”she explained.

See previous story: Speed humps to protect Bordeaux’s youth

She further pointed out that they signed a petition and they wanted more speed humps to be constructed around the school. “The school uses the side-gate on Maxwell Avenue to release the children and in the morning pupils use the side-gate on Darnoc Avenue to enter the school,” she continued.

Bailey further indicated that the forum is still waiting for the approval of Joburg Road Agency (JRA) in order to construct more speed humps.

JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said they have conducted an investigation following concerns from parents and residents and the entity has approved a raised pedestrian intersection in front of the school.

“Schools are prioritized and currently work is being undertaken by the JRA on a strict priority basis, along with commensurate funding,” she concluded.

JMPD spokesperson Edna Mamonyane, explained that traffic officials were monitoring the road but could not do it every day. “Officials are deployed to monitor traffic flow but when immediate issues arise they have to attend them,” she explained.

Apparently teachers had approached taxi drivers who were often to blame but foul language was used.

Ward 102 Councillor David Potter said his office requested JRA to repaint the road markings at the pedestrian signal to allow more space for vehicles to stop away from pedestrians crossing.

“One of the ways to address driver behaviour, is increasing enforcement. Until Metro Police becomes interested in addressing the basics, can driver behaviour be changed,” he concluded.

Details: Bordeaux Primary School 011 789 2802; Ward 102 Councillor David Potter 082 885 9688; Joburg Road Agency 011 298 5023; JMPD 011 758 9100.

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