Call for traffic lights intensifies after Newport accident

A THIRD accident in two months at the intersection of Marion and Newport Avenues have prompted renewed calls for traffic lights to be installed. In May the eThekwini’s Traffic Authority (ETA) announced they would be installing traffic lights at three intersections which included Herrwood Drive and Autumn Dive as well as Keynsham Drive and Umhlanga Rocks Drive.

However since the news was announced only one set of traffic lights on Umhlanga Rocks Drive has been installed.

Last week four people were injured in a t-bone collision at the now infamous intersection. According to Kyle van Reenen of Crisis Medical, one of the vehicles overturned in the accident. This is the third accident since May at the same intersection with every vehicle involved in the collisions overturning.

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According to uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, while the City has a role to play, driving behaviour needed to be addressed.

“Recognizing the intersection has a high accident rate, the eThekwini Transport Authority has approved a set of traffic lights to be installed. The budget for these lights are approved in the municipal budget, and design for their implementation is at an advanced stage. I do believe that lights will seriously improve road safety, particularly in the morning and afternoon when school traffic is at a peak.

“The recent accidents are however an indication of the high speed being done on Newport. This is an issue that must be addressed not just by the city, but by drivers themselves. We cannot continue to have such accidents on such a well demarcated intersection,” he said.