Metro warns theft and vandalism of traffic lights cause disruptions to traffic flow

The metro has announced that there’s been a sharp increase in theft and vandalism of traffic lights in the city.

It warned that this trend of traffic light vandalism and theft causes a significant disruption to traffic flow.

“In the past few months, there has been a sharp increase in the number of traffic lights that have been vandalised or had parts stolen,” said metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba.

Bokaba said some of the parts being stolen included transformers and controllers.

“This has led to many intersections operating without traffic signals, leading to long delays and an increased risk of accidents.”

He added that insurance claims were being processed in an attempt to recover the losses.

“Similarly, the city has also noticed increased vandalism of traffic signals along provincial routes, which is the responsibility of the contractor, appointed by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT), to maintain and repair.”

He said regular follow-ups were made to the province by the city’s technical maintenance teams, should such intersections not be repaired timeously.

Theft and vandalism of traffic lights was a serious problem, putting residents at risk.

“The city is working to repair damaged traffic lights as quickly as possible, but these crimes are having a significant impact on traffic flow and the safety of both motorists and pedestrians alike.”

Bokaba urged residents to immediately report any suspicious activity around traffic lights to the TMPD.

“Communities are cautioned not to confront people found tampering with a traffic light, but rather to report them to TMPD on 012 358 7095/6.”

He said the city would take steps to deter theft and vandalism of traffic lights through the installation of security cameras and increasing patrols in high-crime areas.

“However, the public’s cooperation is essential in preventing these crimes. By working together with communities, the city can help to keep its traffic lights safe and ensure that residents can travel safely.”

The city is also working to raise public awareness of the problem of theft and vandalism of traffic lights through campaigns and different messages via its communication platforms.

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