EDITOR – Regarding your article, Intersection a death trap, Craig Holwill is correct.
I had a terrible experience on September 11, 2021, at that exact intersection.
I was coming from Longmeadow, going straight across to Van Riebeeck Avenue. The other driver (a woman) was coming from Van Riebeeck Avenue and turning right into Modderfontein Road.
I had the clear right of way with a green traffic light, but because of the traffic light synchronisation, she assumed my traffic light was also red and, therefore, I would stop.
I collided with her car and as a result, my car was a complete write-off. Fortunately, my husband and I did not experience major injuries.
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We did have a few bruises from the seatbelts and the deployment of the airbags.
My husband and I are pensioners and at that time we had limited insurance. Our insurance could not cover the full value of the damage.
We, therefore, claimed from the other driver’s insurance. Her insurance declined the claim and six months later we are still in litigation.
We are left without a car and no financial compensation with a loss of almost R100 000.
Even after calling the police several times, no officer came out to take the report, so when the report was filed at the police station by the other driver, there was a correct description of the collision but no admission of guilt.
We surveyed the intersection with our attorney, and in the 20 minutes we were there we witnessed three near accidents due to the same circumstances.
Also read: Residents raise concerns over Riley Road traffic circle
We are left wondering how many people with contested claims by the insurances or not covered at all, suffered a financial loss due to the poor accuracy of the synchronisation of the traffic lights as well as ignoring all the incidents that have taken place as a result?
Something has to be done about that intersection, or do we have to wait for a fatality to happen before someone takes notice?
Felicity Masia
Edenvale
