DEAR Editor,-
Umtentweni locals are careful to proceed with extreme caution at the Abingdon Road intersection traffic lights, whether turning onto or crossing the main road, knowing that to trust a green light is akin to having a death wish.
Drivers breaking the 80km speed limit on the virtually level main road by a considerable margin, combined with the South African habit of running red lights, means that one can often observe up to three vehicles crossing after the lights have changed at any time of the day or night, mostly from the Durban direction.
These include heavy road rigs and long distance buses, which in any case are usually going too fast to stop – even assuming their brakes were in proper working order. Used to the situation we may be, but it is easy enough to have a momentary lack of concentration with potentially fatal consequences.
Traffic police are unknown phenomena at this location, but other stretches of road have exhibited a marked reduction in speeding after a prolonged application of speed cameras. Fixed or temporary cameras at these lights, for the twin purpose of speed trapping and jumping red lights would, I suggest, net a rich financial harvest for the municipality and ultimately make life a lot safer.
PHIL GIRDLESTONE
Tweni
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