Impromptu taxi rank causes traffic chaos
ROODEPOORT - Business owners speak out over an impromptu taxi rank along Ontdekkers Road.
Business owners in Ontdekkers Road have spoken out against an impromptu taxi rank, which they believed is the source of noise, litter and traffic chaos.”It is only a miracle that no accidents have happened here yet,” Marcel van Ruler said, one of the business owner. Van Ruler expressed his frustration with taxi drivers who break the law on a daily basis on this stretch of road.
“Taxis are parked all the way from the corner of Pheasant Street towards Ontdekkers. This is an extremely dangerous practice as this intersection has blind corners on both sides. He pointed out the dangers that could be caused by the taxis parked on the road
“This service road is also fairly narrow and, with all the taxis parked on the one side, it only leaves one lane open for traffic in both directions.”
Van Ruler is also irked by taxi drivers who clean their vehicles while waiting for the next group of passengers, he said they throw rubbish on the road or grass embankment.
Another business owner, Frik van der Merwe, complained that the volume of the music from these taxis makes it impossible for him to run his business professionally.
Van Ruler added that the matter had been escalated to Metro police, but that nothing had been done about the situation to date.
No comment was forthcoming from Metro police at time of going to print.
