Reckless driving on the R55 a danger, says councillor
In the morning, the situation allegedly becomes untenable, with taxi operators aggressively pushing into busy lanes, and weaving in and out of traffic to drop off commuters.
Following reckless driving, mostly perpetuated by taxi drivers and motorbikes on the R55, Ward 132 councillor Annette Depp has asked authorities to intervene.
Deppe said she has written a letter to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), titled: Urgent request for traffic enforcement on the R55, on October 8, strongly urging the JMPD to take immediate action to enforce existing by-laws on this vital route.
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“I am reaching out to bring to your urgent attention the escalating traffic chaos on the R55 between Main and Allandale roads. We are witnessing a significant increase in reckless driving behaviour, particularly involving taxis, which is not only causing severe traffic congestion but also endangering public safety,” said Deppe in the letter.
She said the situation every morning has become untenable, with taxis aggressively pushing into lanes, weaving in and out of traffic, and stopping in active lanes to drop off commuters.
Deppe added that, moreover, there are instances of taxis abandoning the road entirely and running red lights, particularly at Kyalami Estate.
“This unacceptable behaviour not only frustrates other motorists but also poses a substantial risk to pedestrians and other road users. Despite previous meetings initiated by former Region A director Abigail [Ndlovu] nearly two years ago, there has been little progress in addressing these concerns,” Deppe said in the letter.
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In the article, Two years of empty promises frustrates drivers, the paper reported that the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport was mum over their 2022 traffic report following a site visit in March of that year.
In the report, the department recommended the installation of various traffic calming measures to reduce speeding and potential accidents, such as rumble stripes and closure of the centre island emergency gap..
Deppe believes a consistent and visible presence of traffic enforcement is essential to restoring order and safety for all road users.
She hopes her letter will get attention to this pressing matter and looks forward to hearing about the steps that will be taken to mitigate this ongoing issue.
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla was contacted on October 10, acknowledged our query on October 14, and was reminded again on October 15, but had not responded at the time of going to print.
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