CONCERNED residents on Danville Avenue are calling for more traffic-calming measures to halt speeding on the busy road, which runs parallel to a school. This follows numerous complaints about reckless driving and speeding, which has allegedly resulted in a number of crashes on the road and cars going through residents’ walls.
One resident, Troye Hunter, said he felt safety concerns were being swept aside by the city and their call for speed calming measures being ignored. Last week, 35 people were fined for speeding on Umhlanga Rocks Drive by Metro Police and Hunter said he’d like to see either speed humps or speed trapping to address the constant speeding and flouting of the limit.
“I’ve lived on Danville Avenue for four years and speeding has always been a problem. Some cars hurtle two abreast into Danville avenue, trying to overtake each other, with no consideration for the residents or school pupils crossing the road. I won’t let my dogs or my children out on the road. Even when I’m coming out of my driveway, I have to be extremely careful.
“The municipal buses are actually some of the worst culprits. They fly down here going at least 100km/h. I’ve found taxis actually slow down traffic because they are looking for passengers. Speeding is an issue, and if this continues, there will be a fatality. I feel some sort of enforcement is needed on this road. If Metro Police conducted one of their operations, they’d catch a lot of drivers speeding. I’m not in a unique position here and it’s getting out of hand,” Hunter said.
In 2006, the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) launched its traffic calming policy, with the aim to reduce excessive traffic volumes on roads not designed for this purpose and a reduction of the operating speed, where excessive speed could lead to a potential hazard. However, measures could only be taken if there was a high record of accidents.
Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, however, said the policy was restrictive and reactive.
“There has been a number of accidents on the road and I’ve requested for the ETA to implement some sort of traffic calming measure to curb speeding. The response however is there cannot be an engineered solution for poor driving behaviour. The fact of the matter is there has been a number of accidents on the road as well nearby Mackeurtan Avenue and the residents safety is paramount.
“With regards to the calming policy itself, the city should be looking to prevent accidents, not reacting to them and we have asked for this to be reviewed and workshopped. Danville Avenue needs some enforcement and I will be in contact with Metro Police regarding conducting a speed timing operation,” he said.
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