Renewed calls for police presence on M4

THERE has been renewed calls for more police presence on the M4 Ruth First Highway following a fatal accident on Saturday night. A driver of a vehicle was burnt alive after his car overturned near the Broadway off-ramp. There have been a number of fatalities on this stretch of road with many residents saying excessive speeding and drunk driving were the cause of the fatal crashes particularly between Blue Lagoon and the Swapo (Broadway) Road turnoff.

Since January, there has been six fatalities on the road.  Some residents have suggested static speed cameras, while others have suggested putting speed humps to curb the speeding.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, said the lack of police enforcement on the M4 was to blame as being a contributing factor.

“Drivers know they can get away with speeding and drunk driving and because there is very little consequence, they continue to do it. Earlier this year two cyclists were killed and the driver was charged with drunk driving. However, if police set-up regular roadblocks especially late at night and early in the morning on that road, you’d catch speeding. The M4 is a death trap, I avoid the road, especially at night. How many more deaths do we need before the City acts?” he asked. 

Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, said he made a recommendation to the City to install average speed cameras on the road.

“The system works well on the M13, where the camera’s monitor your average speed between two points. Drivers exceeding that get fined and it prevents people from speeding. That would be a better solution than static cameras as motorists slow down before the camera and then speed when they past it. I also feel that Metro Police need to hold more roadblocks on the M4 rather than the M41,” he said.