POLOKWANE – Some motorists disregard stop signs in Westenburg and residents fear this could soon lead to a major accident.
According to some residents, motorists speed in Ben Harris Street and when they approach the intersection at the corner of Ben Harris and John Smith Street and the corner of Ben Harris and Southon Street, they do not stop.
“The motorists who travel in John Smith and Southon Street are taking a big risk and are in danger of colliding with any oncoming vehicles in Ben Harris Street.
“The problem is even worse during rush hour for the taxis. They are in such a hurry to pick up and drop off loads, that they do not stop at the stop signs and motorists have to swerve and get out the way for them,” one resident said.
Another resident added that it was not only motorists who risked being involved in an accident, but pedestrians were too.
“Because motorists do not stop at the stop signs, pedestrians do not have a chance to cross the road. They have to wait until there are no vehicles in order to cross the street. The municipality must do something quickly before someone gets hurt,” the resident said.
According to residents, it would not help if the municipality deployed traffic officials at the affected intersection and suggested that the municipality put up speed humps instead.
“If there are speed humps just before the stop signs, motorists will be forced to stop, otherwise they will damage their vehicles,” residents said.
Review investigated and found that there were three stop signs in the main road of Westenburg, which are on the corner of John Smith and Ben Harris Street, on the corner of Southon and Ben Harris Street and on the corner of Gibbon and Ben Harris Street.
Review observed that motorists travelling in Ben Harris Street only stopped at two intersections in the main road and that was at the stop sign on the corner of Gibbon and Ben Harris Street, and at the intersection of Ben Harris and Buys Street, where there was a traffic light. At the other intersections, motorists applyed a ‘touch and go’ rule.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said traffic law enforcement officers would be dispatched to the affected areas to enforce the law. “We are committed to ensuring safety on all municipal roads and controlled flow of traffic. Stop signs are there to ensure controlled traffic and motorists ignoring them cannot be tolerated,” Chuene said.
Residents can report traffic related matters to (015) 290 2457.
