Casseldale crossing is dangerous, says resident

Ekurhuleni Metro will investigate the erecting of traffic lights on the corner of Clydesdale and Mentz roads after a resident complained about this crossing.

Elane Greyvenstein says there were no speed calming measures on Clydesdale Road and that people crossing the intersection of Clydesdale and Mentz roads have to take chances in doing so.

She says there used to be a traffic regulator in the mornings, but motorists have to take chances crossing there in the mornings now, as the traffic gets very congested with the school down the road in Mentz Road and the aftercare school in Clydesdale Road.

“I personally think this is a very dangerous road for crossing, in a car or even as a pedestrian. I sometimes see children crossing the road when walking from the school.

“Should we not have a zebra crossing there for pedestrians?,” she asked.

She also said she had seen a lot of accidents in Clydesdale Road.

“People think it is a ‘drag strip’ down there, as there is no traffic mechanism to slow down the speed limit,” says Greyvenstein.

About the possibility of traffic calming measures in Clydesdale Road, Themba Gadebe, spokesman of Ekurhuleni Metro, says the metro’s policy states that speed humps are not warranted on this type of road.

He explained the metro’s road system has a number of levels in the hierarchy of roads, depending on the functions of the roads.

“For instance, a freeway is meant for movement of high volumes of vehicles with little disruption caused by access and what the metro terms as a class 5 road is meant for access to individual stands and little mobility is thus required.

“Clydesdale Road is a class 3 road as it has a collector function, which leans more towards mobility than access.

“If the mobility function is hampered in any way like installing speed humps, its function and capacity is lowered and motorists will look for alternative roads within residential streets to shorten their travel times.”

Gadebe says speed humps cannot be installed on class 3 roads, in terms of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipal Traffic Calming Guidelines Policy.

“Traffic calming measures on class 3 roads are limited to informative measures such as maximum speed limit signs.”

On the installation of traffic lights on the corner of Clydesdale and Mentz roads, Gadebe says they will be installed if it is warranted.

“A warrant investigation will be conducted when an traffic engineer consultant has been appointed.”

Gadebe says speeding on the major road network can only be controlled by the Metro Police Department.

“The complainant may contact Hein Botha at the Metro Police Department on 011 999 4560, as he is responsible for speed-related law enforcement.”