New traffic regulations for part of Swartkoppies Road
At the exit of Rietvlei Zoo Farm, drivers have often taken their lives into their own hands as they have turned either right or left onto Swartkoppies Road, after visiting the farm or dropping their children off at Grace Trinity school.
SWARTKOPPIES ROAD – For months now Toni Mackrell (Rietvlei Zoo Farm) and other interested parties have been battling to get speed measures put in place for the section of the road, just before and after the entrance to the farm, to bring the speed limit down.
“The speed limit was 80 km/h on Swartkoppies Road but drivers go way over that, often exceeding 100 km/h,” said Toni.
One mother whose child attends Grace Trinity said, “A few weeks ago I was coming out of the farm and turning right onto Swartkoppies Road when a vehicle, which must have been speeding at about 120 km/h, narrowly missed hitting me. My child and me would surely have been badly injured or killed if the vehicle had hit us.
“I’m really pleased the speed limit is now 60 km/h in front of the farm exit and for a few metres each side. Now we just have to hope drivers obey the new speed limit.”
When the reporter was taking the photograph last week, not long after the new signage had been erected, some drivers carried on at the same speed but others did realise the change from 80 to 60 km/h and slowed down.
Outwardly great but we all know that in a few weeks little or no policing will happen here. Remember when trucks were prohibited from overtaking on certain highways during peak times? A couple of weeks of intensive policing and then it all fell apart……….
I think traffic lights would have been better especially with the New Shopping Cente coming, it would control the traffic entirely on that whole stretch of Swartkoppies ! But I guess this helps a little at least .
Thanks to Gauteng Provincial. Guateng Metro and Toni Mackrell from Rietvlei Zoo Farm making this a reality.