Metro Police have recently issued a report highlighting speeding on Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie.
One of their recommendations is installing a permanent speed camera.
This follows a petition by the Blairgowrie Community Association for the City of Johannesburg to investigate installing the camera to reduce speeding and accidents.
The report stated that Metro Police recently conducted manual speed enforcement along Conrad Drive. Over a three-week period, 213 drivers were prosecuted for speeding.
The road is a steep dual carriageway and carries a 60km/h speed limit.
Between April last year to October this year 132 accidents were reported – 87 per cent of these accidents involved no injuries, eight per cent involved slight injuries, four per cent involved serious injuries and one per cent involved fatalities; 21 per cent of the accidents occurred between 6am and 9am, 46 per cent between 9am and 4pm, and 25 per cent between 4pm and 7pm.
Metro Police made the following propositions to the City’s Petitions Committee:
- Continue to conduct manual speed enforcement twice weekly.
- “Flashers”, who warn oncoming motorists of the enforcement ahead, will be addressed as ultimately, they are defeating the ends of justice.
- Only one 60km/h speed limit sign exists along the route. Johannesburg Roads Agency will be requested to install further signage to warn motorists to slow down.
- Metro Police will soon have a two-day operation to increase visibility related to speed and drunken driving.
“Further to the above, ultimately a permanent speed camera is required,” the report states.
The implementation of this has two issues: The cost, and approval from an external G overnment body.
Blairgowrie Community Association Chairperson Jed Kemery said that the association put forward the petition because there is a “dire need for motorists to slow down on the road”.
“Many motorists not only jump the red lights at the Blairgowrie Plaza but also hit speeds of up to 85 to 100km/h when coming down the hill,” he explained. “The problem section runs very close to a public swimming pool which children frequent.”
Ward 102 councillor David Potter said that he is “largely satisfied” with Metro Police’s report.
Details: Metro Police 011 758 9100; Ward 102 councillor David Potter, david@oursuburb.co.za, Blairgowrie Community Association, 071 345 0209.
