‘More excuses instead of solutions’ to errant driving on Arbour Road

THE death of Winklespruit resident and veteran Metro Police officer, Inspector Johan Deysel on Friday night, 11 January has laid bare the consequences of a problem that has plagued Arbour Road since its inception nine years ago.

READ: Metro Police officer killed while trying to stop taxi in Amanzimtoti

Since the main road serving the Upper South Coast’s new central business node was constructed, motorists have with increasing impunity, disregarded road rules.

The most common infraction, and a lethal one at that, has been the flagrant disregard of stop streets and even robots along the entire stretch from Moss Kolnick to Dickens Road.

Insp Deysel died after he was struck by a taxi on Arbour Road after 7.30pm. A 22-year-old taxi driver was arrested and appeared in Amanzimtoti court on Monday, 14 January.

Ward 97’s Cllr Andre Beetge, whose ongoing complaints triggered Friday night’s Metro Police enforcement operation, said blatant disregard for traffic signals in Arbour Road by an array of road users has been a bone of contention since the advent of the new business node.

Extending his condolences to Deysel’s widow Rina, he said Insp Deysel ” will be remembered for his dedicated service to the city and to making ours a safer community”.

However, he lamented that there have historically been ‘‘more excuses instead of solutions’’ to the problem of errant motorists on Arbour Road.

Law enforcement was but one of various measures which should include speed humps, rumble strips, traffic circles, robots with permanent cameras and hand-held speed timing. Beetge pointed out the general disregard for legislation and the judicial process in correspondence to both the city manager Sipho Nzuza and Metro Police head Steve Middleton following Insp Deysel’s death.

Beetge fingered many different road users as culprits and traffic offenders on Arbour Road, not only taxi drivers.

On Tuesday 15 January he engaged with the South African National Taxi Committee’s (Santaco) Ningizimu One regional executive. This body represents 18 associations which operate just short of 6,000 vehicles between Umkomaas, Isipingo and Mid-Illovo.

Beetge sought a collective approach between the association and other stakeholders to reduce incidents and render roads safer. ‘‘The executive was unanimous in agreeing it was a serious problem, as while it was in its and every owner’s interest to render a safe service and to maintain well-run vehicles, they admit to having little control over the way their vehicles are driven by individuals. Their records reflect many terminations due to substantiated reckless driving.’’

The meeting resulted in recommendations:

• That an executive representative participate in ward transport issues resulting in a direct, hands-on approach;
• That partners be sought within the private sector and municipality to assist with additional vehicles to expand their current two ‘inspection and reporting’ vehicles which are manned by five trained individuals on rotation. This would allow for improved monitoring of vehicles and liaison with law enforcement;
• To intensify co-operation with KZN Transport Training Academy to train more drivers in safer driving techniques;
• To encourage more members who purchase new vehicles to participate in the Moja Cruise programme, which includes an on-board camera which is monitored by Ethekwini Transport Authority (ETA) and is coupled to an incentive for the taxi driver and owner;
• To exert more pressure on government to legislate the Taxi Standards Authority (TSA) to scrap vehicles up to year 2011 (currently 2006) which they consider to be in a dangerous or questionable condition;
• Decentralised meetings with all 18 associations within the region to highlight concerns and confirm commitment to a safer, more acceptable style of driving;
• For the Msahweni Taxi Association from Adams Mission to conduct its own internal investigation and render all possible assistance to the investigation related to Insp Deysel’s death.

‘‘We are yet to receive feedback from the city regarding its commitment towards a collective resolve but we trust it will also reflect the same positive response as that from the taxi association.’’

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