Renewed calls for more police presence on the M4
Driver behaviour and lack of policing biggest factor in M4 accidents says uMhlanga councillor.
A HORRIFIC crash on the M4 that claimed the life of a Grade 10 pupil has led to renewed calls for more police presence on the M4. Crawford College North Coast Grade 10 pupil, Uzair Manjra, was killed in the head on collision at the intersection of the Ruth First (M4 northern) freeway and Sandile Thusi (Argyle) Road on Thursday.
Another pupil from the school, Shaariq Joosub (Grade 11) was also injured in the crash. The school postponed examinations scheduled for Friday to hold a special assembly this morning
Since the beginning of the year there have been 20 accidents (that Northglen News has reported on) on the M4 between Argyle Road and the uMhlanga off-ramp. Six people have been killed and more than 30 people have been injured in the accidents the newspaper has covered. Some residents have labelled the road a ‘death-trap’ while others have asked the city to take ‘drastic action’.
The Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa spokesman, Layton Beard, said while he agreed with residents that effective policing was required, driver behaviour needed to change as well.
“Yes, effective policing is required, but you cannot view that in isolation. We need to look at drive behaviour and adapt our attitudes to driving. Motorists are well aware of the rules and their responsibilities, but a lot of people don’t adhere to those rules. If drivers don’t take responsibility for their actions and carry on making decisions that they know to be wrong for their own sake, nothing will improve,” he said.
uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, who echoed Beard’s comments, said he believed the M4 had become synonymous with accidents because of a combination of factors.
“I’ve personally witnessed how aggressive drivers behave on the M4 especially, it’s shocking. Drivers are no longer courteous, they flout the speed limits on the freeway. I think driver behaviour needs to change, yes, but it’s a symptom of a lack of policing by Metro that leads to motorists getting away with dangerous driving,” he said.
