Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport mum over R55’s 2022 report
In the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport's report, it noted speeding, driving into oncoming traffic, and general bad driver behaviour as the contributing factors to accidents on the R55 Road.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is mum over their 2022 traffic report aimed at addressing challenges faced by motorists and pedestrians on the R55 Road between Midrand and Kyalami.
The report comes following a site visit that was conducted in March 2022 by the department officials and Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe.
It was necessary after the road continued to see an increase in traffic volumes as a result of job seekers looking for opportunities which resulted in the need for more public transport.
This has taken almost two years and Deppe said continuing increasing traffic volumes and several accidents happening at the intersection of the R55 and Kenilworth Road, remain a concern.
She said safety was critical for everyone and there was a dire need for upgrading provincial roads to accommodate the ever-increasing traffic volumes on the route.
“Jaywalking is a big problem. And motorists now have to slow down which then eventually creates huge traffic backlogs. For instance, if you hit a jaywalker, then it is going to be your problem as the driver. So jaywalking in this road also needs to be controlled, maybe by putting a barricade in the middle area so that they all have to cross at the traffic light,” said Deppe.
Other concerns in the department’s report include speeding, taxis driving into oncoming traffic, exploiting the reserved gap for emergencies on the centre median, pedestrian zigzag crossing and general bad driver behaviour.
In the report, the department recommended installing traffic calming measures to reduce speeding and potential accidents. “[The department] proposes a closure of the centre island emergency gap which is being exploited by the delivery motorbikes and minibus taxis. Restriction through by-law enforcement for parking on the road shoulder and servitude by mass public transportation on the road,” the department said in the report as part of the recommendations.
The department was asked on January 10 and reminded on 15, about how they are addressing issues raised in the previous meeting in April last year. Queries were also put forward on what have been the stumbling blocks to ensuring suggested preventative measures are executed and when will the department commence with solutions to the challenges on the R55 road.
However, department spokesperson Lesiba Mpya had not responded by the time of going to print.
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