Speeding is spinning out of control in uMhlanga says residents
Residents and stakeholders discussed how uMhlanga Ridge, Village and the M4 Ruth First Highway had turned into a mini race track at a meeting with Metro Police officials.
EXCESSIVE speeding, loud revving of engines, driving without number plates and performing doughnuts were just some of the concerns raised at a public meeting in uMhlanga recently. The meeting, arranged by ward councillor Nicole Bollman, involved various stakeholders and Metro Police who residents feel aren’t doing enough to address their concerns.
Residents and stakeholders discussed how uMhlanga Ridge, Village and the M4 Ruth First Highway had turned into a mini race track.
“I’ve received numerous complaints from residents in the Ridge, the Village and along the M4 almost daily. They’ve all expressed their concern especially fears about a fatal accident. We can’t have a case of innocent people being put at risk. It’s a chronic issue and this behaviour needs to change,” explained councillor Bollman.
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“I do feel the meeting with Metro Police to highlight the issues was productive and they’ve in turn made suggestions on how to curb the flouting of rules by errant drivers. One of the main suggestions was to report issues like speeding and vehicles revving their car engines to make a deafening noise to Metro Police on 031 361 0000. If there is no response I would suggest then to take the matter up with the Durban North/uMhlanga Community Policing Forum (CPF),” she said.
Hayden Conradie of Executive Neighbourhood Services (ENS), who provides security for the Upper uMhlanga area said drivers with high-powered vehicles race between traffic lights and along residential roads.
“They’ve created a mini race track by speeding along Herrwood Drive then turning into Herald Drive before making their way on the M4. We have 10 number plate recognition cameras in the area but not a single vehicle has been picked because there aren’t any number plates on the vehicles breaking the law. This is a longstanding issue and one I feel can be solved through enforcement,” Conradie said.
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Another resident, Victor Alves concurred, saying he felt the lack of enforcement emboldened drivers breaking the rules of the road.
“I’ve lived on uMhlanga Ridge for three years and this has been an ongoing problem. Because of a lack of enforcement from Metro Police there are people speeding on a daily basis. The pedestrian crossings aren’t respected and at night, the stop signs aren’t adhered to. “I’m constantly kept awake at night by the loud revving of engines too. This is unacceptable and we are all frustrated by those breaking the law,” Alves said.
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