Meetings between stakeholders and SANRAL have been ongoing since 2019, where community members implored SANRAL to consider additional safety measures in the pass and along the N11, to prevent accidents and frequent spills of hazardous materials.
The residents pressed SANRAL to implement a compulsory stop at the top of the pass for heavy motor vehicles.
During the three-year period, SANRAL conducted a series of assessments to determine whether accidents were owed to road conditions or driver behaviour, stating that a compulsory stop was considered a last resort.
The entity first considered other solutions to avoid unnecessary expenditures and lengthy logistical procedures of a compulsory stop.
While lockdown in 2019 delayed assessments, SANRAL eventually did implement other safety measures aside from the sandpits already in place, which included additional signage, road markings and the placement of rumble strips in an attempt to correct driver behaviour and solicit caution, especially from truck drivers.
While a compulsory stop is likely on the cards for the pass, the upgrades did seem to decrease the number of truck accidents somewhat, after statistics compiled by Van Wettens Towing Services reflected that truck accidents and vehicle recoveries from the sandpits between January 2021 to April 2022, declined.
The statistics provided by Van Wettens reflected that the number of sandpit recoveries decreased from 16 in 2021 to eight in 2022, while track accidents decreased from nine in 2021 to two in 2022.
Community stakeholders have faced frequent postponements of meetings as SANRAL finalises the appointment of an engineer for the compulsory stop, as well as to allow the engineer time to start with a basis assessment.
A stakeholder meeting will be held on Friday at 10:00, at Go-2 Steakhouse, where SANRAL will likely give feedback on the possibility of a compulsory stop.
