Residents of Horison have been up in arms over the frequency of accidents at the notorious intersection of Andries Bruyn Avenue and Swart Street for years.

The latest incident, in which a 14-year-old girl – a passenger on a quad bike – lost her life on August 9, along with pressure from the community, has prompted the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to take action.

According to a media release by the entity, three in-depth investigations have been carried out at the intersection over the past five years, all concluding that the design of the intersection is not the cause of the frequent accidents there.

• Read the initial article here: Girl (14) killed in Horison quad bike accident

According to the release, all fingers point to drivers simply ignoring the stop signs at the intersection.

“All incidents have been attributed to poor driver behaviour and a disregard for existing traffic laws,” reads the release.

In response, the JRA has announced the installation of a new mini-traffic circle and speed bumps on all approaches to the intersection in an effort to address persistent non-compliance with stop signs.

JRA Chief Executive Officer Zweli Nyathi acknowledged the urgency of the matter, undertaking to have the new measures implemented during September.

“It will be designed to naturally slow down vehicles and enforce yielding, thereby promoting safer driving without disrupting the flow of traffic. The addition of speed humps will further reduce speeds and and improve compliance on all approaches to the intersection.

“This tragic loss of life is a stark reminder of the importance of obeying the rules of the road. Even with improved infrastructure, the safety of Johannesburg’s roads ultimately depends on the behaviour of every driver.

“The JRA urges all motorists to exercise caution, adhere to speed limits, and comply with all traffic signs to prevent future tragedies.”