Morning traffic raise safety concerns for Blairgowrie residents

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla had admitted that they are aware of the traffic congestion issues in Blairgowrie.

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He said that traffic congestion during peak hours is a known challenge in many areas of Johannesburg, and they recognize the concerns raised regarding Conrad Drive and Blairgowrie Drive.

This follows after residents in the area raised safety concerns over negligent driving because of traffic, especially early in the morning. The roads get flooded by cars, with some driving towards oncoming traffic, and even on the pavements.

Harold Fleishman, co-chairperson of Blairgowrie Community Association, explained that this has been going on for several months, and they’re mostly concerned by road rage and people getting hurt in accidents. “It’s very bad. People driving on the wrong side of the road or into oncoming traffic. No accidents have happened as yet.”
He further stated that they reported the issue several times and JMPD say they do not have enough staff.

According to Fihla, during times of inclement weather, like it has been in the past couple of weeks, traffic moves slower than normal. “This leads to ‘rat running’ through the suburbs between main arterials. In this case, Conrad between Bram Fischer and Jan Smuts roads. Occasionally, we have this problem on Conrad, and the JMPD deals with it.”

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He confirmed that it is within the mandate of JMPD to manage traffic flow, enforce traffic regulations, and ensure the safety of road users and pedestrians. This includes addressing traffic congestion and illegal driving behaviour.

To assist the Blairgowrie residents, JMPD commits to increase traffic monitoring and enforcement in the affected areas, subject to available resources, to conduct a traffic assessment to identify the root causes of the congestion, and to develop potential solutions. They will also be deploying traffic point duties for officers, during peak hours, to manage traffic flow. They promised to also engage with residents and local stakeholders to gather further information and collaborate on solutions.

To ensure residents’ safety Fihla confirmed that the entity will prioritize the enforcement of traffic regulations, including those related to driving on pavements and in opposing lanes. “We will increase visibility in the affected areas, to deter illegal driving behaviour. We will also work with Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to assess and improve road infrastructure, where necessary, and respond to reported incidents promptly.”

He added that they acknowledge the information regarding the reported shortage of JMPD officers in Region B and are currently investigating the staffing levels.

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