Albert Street residents demand road safety
As the dialogue between residents and city officials continues, the shared goal remains clear: To enhance safety on Albert Street and protect all who use it.
Residents of Albert Street have long voiced concerns over a hazardous bend near house number 67, citing frequent accidents and the peril it poses to the community.
Despite interventions by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), including the installation of guardrails, incidents persist, leading to heightened calls for more effective traffic calming measures. Jennifer van der Westhuizen, a resident, has been at the forefront of advocating for enhanced road safety. She emphasises the daily risks faced by children, joggers, cyclists and pedestrians due to motorists disregarding speed limits.
“This fight is about keeping my family and our community safe,” she asserted. “Drivers use our street to bypass authorities, especially after drinking. Their reckless behaviour, including speeding and texting, has made this bend a hotspot for accidents,” she explained.
The community’s concerns are not without basis. On November 10, 2024, a driver lost control, crashing through the guardrails and into Van der Westhuizen’s property. Such incidents have forced families to restrict outdoor activities due to safety fears.
“Our children can’t even play in the yard or swim anymore because we fear for their lives,” she lamented.
In response to these concerns, JRA has previously implemented measures such as edge lines, warning signs and guardrails, and is in the process of installing cat eyes to guide drivers. However, the agency has deemed the installation of speed humps unfeasible due to the road’s gradient, insufficient sight distance, and its classification as a Class Four collector road.
Esther Schmidt from the Traffic Engineering Department explained, “Installing humps on such a gradient could pose a risk to vehicles and road users, particularly during adverse weather conditions.”
JRA emphasised that, while infrastructure can mitigate risks, driver behaviour remains a critical factor.
“Even with the best-designed roadways, drivers who choose to ignore traffic signals, signage, speed limits, or general road rules will still engage in unsafe driving. Compliance with traffic laws is the responsibility of the individual driver,” Schmidt noted.
Residents are encouraged to report instances of speeding or reckless driving to the JMPD. The Traffic Engineering Department remains committed to exploring alternative traffic calming measures that align with engineering standards and warrants.
The community has also initiated a petition to advocate for further interventions, the details of which are being co-ordinated with the relevant authorities.
