Residents of Lynnwood Ridge have appealed for urgent action to curb ongoing speeding in the suburb, submitting a petition that raises escalating safety concerns along residential streets.

Annie Clarke said the petition was in response to what the community describes as a “serious and ongoing problem affecting pedestrians, children, and cyclists”.

“We are asking you to sign this petition to address the serious and ongoing speeding problem within Lynnwood Ridge,” said Clarke.

According to Clarke, excessive speeding has become a widespread issue throughout the area.

She said residents are witnessing dangerous driving on a daily basis on roads where children ride bicycles, families walk their dogs, people walk to work, and neighbours go about their daily lives.

“There have already been accidents, and the number of near misses is deeply concerning. Many residents feel anxious about allowing their children to play outside or even walking within the estate,” she said.

She said that the very place that is meant to provide safety and security has become a source of stress and fear.

More than 120 residents signed the petition within 48 hours, with the number continuing to grow daily.

Certain roads in the suburb, including Jacobson Drive and Camellia Street, have been repeatedly identified by residents as high-risk areas due to long straight sections that encourage excessive speeds, particularly from non-residents using the routes as drive-through roads.

“We are calling on the municipality to implement traffic-calming measures such as speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, clearer road markings, improved signage and increased visible enforcement,” said Clarke.

Clarke stated that speeding has significantly impacted daily life in the area, particularly for pedestrians walking to and from work before sunrise and after sunset.

According to her, residents have also shared numerous reports of near misses and accidents within the community, with some incidents involving domestic animals such as dogs and cats being killed due to reckless driving.

At present, the petition remains the main organised initiative aimed at raising awareness around road safety in the suburb.

In response to Rekord’s enquiry, metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the Roads and Transport Department is aware of traffic calming requests in the area, but that no petition has been formally received.

Mashigo confirmed that the department has conducted various site visits and observations in Lynnwood Ridge, while the TMPD continues to conduct on-site speed monitoring.

“No formal reports of traffic incidents, accidents or near misses have been received in the area over the past 12 months,” he said.

He added that several speed humps and traffic circles have previously been implemented in the suburb and that an access monitor control application from the community has been approved.

However, Mashigo said there are currently no plans to introduce additional speed-calming infrastructure such as speed bumps, cameras or signage due to a lack of available budget.

“The area in question is mainly a residential area, and an access monitor system has been implemented, meaning that law enforcement will have a higher priority elsewhere in the city,” he said.

Mashigo explained that the metro follows a formal process whereby ward councillors submit community petitions to the Petitions Committee at the City Manager’s Office.

He noted that timelines for implementing traffic interventions are subject to an investigation to determine whether complaints warrant intervention, after which matters are placed on a priority list and implementation takes place subject to the availability of funding.

Mashigo further stated that the metro has developed Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) guidelines and standards, which are followed when projects aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclist safety are carried out in the metro.

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