APPEALS for speed humps that residents claim have been ignored for the past three decades have resurfaced.
The request for this particular speed calming measure on Bartlett Road, Pinetown is an annual occurrence and according to residents who expressed their frustration during an interview with the Highway Mail, they have followed all the procedures required to apply for speed humps, but all their attempts have been in vain.
The most recent accident on the road which occurred last Friday has led residents to pursue their mission again to ensure that motorists stick to the speed limit while driving on the road, which is also used daily by children who attend Forestdene Pre-Primary school.
Rakesh Karamchund, who has been involved in the appeal process for speed humps since 1998, said, “Every year we submit an application for speed humps. We have signed petitions, submitted letters and followed the proper procedures, but we have still received no joy. The municipality has erected concealed driveway signs on the road, but that does not help as drivers still speed on this road and there is an accident almost every second day. If the respective authorities set up speed traps on this road, they will understand the severity of this issue and how urgently we need proper speed calming measures to be implemented.
“It is so difficult to exit our driveways because drivers speed on this road and this poses a great risk. I also offered to pay for the speed humps to be erected, but I was told that I would be charged and arrested because this land belongs to the government.”
Principal and owner of Forestdene Pre-Primary school, Deeann Mayo has also been a part of this ongoing battle. She said, “I have been here for the past 40 years. I have tried on numerous occasions to appeal for speed humps as speeding motorists are a danger to my children. I was told that the issue cannot be addressed further unless someone is killed. There are signs on the road to indicate that there is a school on this road and there is a pedestrian crossing, but no one ever obeys those signs. We are desperately requesting for our appeal to be met.”
Attempts to obtain a comment from the municipality proved unsuccessful at the time of going to print.
