Parkmore Community Association demands JMPD action over reckless taxi drivers on 11th Street
Motorists on 11th Street face daily hazards as drivers bypass heavy congestion by steering into oncoming traffic.
Parkmore residents face daily risks from reckless taxi drivers bypassing heavy congestion along 11th Street.
Parkmore Community Association manager Lori Klein called for a consistent Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) presence along the busy thoroughfare during a site visit with the Sandton Chronicle at the corner of 11th Street and Victoria Avenue on September 30.
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Klein said taxis regularly travel on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, particularly on weekdays to bypass congestion.
“This has been ongoing for many years,” Klein said.
However, she said police visibility in the area remains limited and that the situation tends to improve temporarily when officers are present, before returning to normal once they leave.
“When they have arrived, unfortunately it’s solved on that particular day, and everything is back to normal again on the following day.”
The issue was evident during the site visit, with traffic moving through the intersection in wet conditions. Klein said the weather should not be regarded as a reason for motorists to disregard road rules.
“Today it is raining, but there’s no excuse. This is the driver behaviour of taxis every single day. While we’ve been standing here, there was almost a horrendous accident that was, thank God, avoided, but it could have been absolutely terrible.”
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She said the traffic problem is not isolated to the intersection of 11th Street and Victoria Avenue, but extends along a wider section of 11th Street.
“This traffic actually starts on 11th Street from around Lillian Avenue all the way up to Grayston Drive, and this is every single weekday.”
“Having JMPD would really, really benefit everybody,” Klein said, adding that consistent enforcement could help motorists understand that driving into oncoming lanes is not acceptable.
“I must also point out that Parkmore is a thoroughfare and the majority of these cars are avoiding the traffic coming from Bryanston, Fourways and Winnie Mandela Drive all the way through to Sandton CBD.”
Klein warned that continued congestion and drivers bypassing queues in opposing traffic lanes create dangerous conditions for motorists and pedestrians.
The publication reached out to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla for comment on September 30, and he acknowledged the enquiry, but no comment was received by the time of publication. Updates will be provided once available.
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