Efforts are being made to intensify traffic management operations – EMPD
As stage five rolling blackouts continue, the EMPD warns unauthorised civilians against directing traffic during blackouts.
With more traffic lights out of service and the problem further exacerbated by rolling blackouts, the EMPD says efforts are being made to intensify traffic management operations on main arterial routes.
EMPD spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa said although officers can’t be at every corner and intersection, main arterial routes and known grid locked intersections are prioritised across the city during the rolling blackouts.
“With the little resources available, members are deployed to the identified hotspots. In Boksburg, in particular, officers are deployed to the heavily congested spots, including the intersections of Rietfontein and North Rand roads, Rondebult and Rietfontein, Rondebult and Main Reef, Rondebult and Leeuwpoort Street, Rondebult near the N17, Rondebult and Kingfisher Avenue, Rondebult and the R554, Barry Marais and N3 and many other busy areas.
No unauthorised person should direct traffic — EMPD
As stage five rolling blackouts continue, the EMPD warns unauthorised civilians against directing traffic during blackouts.
The EMPD stated that they have in the past received numerous complaints about unauthorised people controlling heavy traffic congestion at some of the busy intersections during peak periods in the city.
“The information received suggests that members of some community forums or ordinary citizens and addicts wear a reflective vest and routinely take it upon themselves to direct traffic when the power cuts.
“You cannot direct traffic without training and those who are unqualified should refrain from doing so.
“It’s dangerous and illegal for any untrained or unauthorised person to be controlling and directing traffic on a public road.
“The main problem with that is if an accident happens within that intersection, the metro will not be liable for that accident.
“Only authorised trained traffic officials and retired policemen can be deployed to assist in controlling traffic during the blackouts,” explained Thepa.
Motorists are urged to adhere to the rules of the road, and where there are no points men, drivers should treat those intersections as compulsory four-way stops.
Safety tips
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) says with unpredictable load shedding continuing for the foreseeable future, motorists and pedestrians should follow a few simple rules. These include:
• Treat traffic lights that are either broken or completely turned off as four-way stops.
• Be calm, be respectful, take your turn, and be extra vigilant for pedestrians who have lost their crossing period time to cross safely.
• Be calm in the traffic, even if it takes longer to reach your destination. Arriving late is better than not arriving at all.
•Maintain a safe following distance, especially on highways.
• Do not drive in the emergency lanes – keep these open for emergency vehicles.
Also Read: WATCH: Load shedding causing chaos on major routes, pointsmen nowhere to be seen
