THERE are several dangerous things that can occur when a driver travels at an unsafe speed. The injury of an innocent child is one tragic too many.
This was, unfortunately, the case when a Marlborough Park Junior Primary School Grade 3 learner suffered a leg injury after he was knocked over by a vehicle on Wednesday, 16 October, on his way home from school at the pedestrian crossing mid-way down the hill from Spar on Bluff Road.
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“A witness said that a car came out of nowhere at great speed and had no intention of stopping at the traffic light. It was only when the driver saw Shawn Batista crossing the road that he made an attempt to swerve out, but by then it was too late. Witnesses at the scene said the car hit Shawn, flung him in the air, drove past and then stopped. Shawn landed on the left side. The impact ripped the shoe apart, sliced through the leg and bone and shattered the jaw,” said a concerned Marlborough Park Junior Primary School principal, Claire Thornhill, explaining the tragic incident.
Her staff and concerned community members attended to the little boy to keep him still and conscious and prevent him from seeing the distressing damage to the leg. “Police officers did a marvelous job of keeping witnesses at hand and moving onlookers. They directed traffic, kept notes and vital information, called for the paramedics and managed the scene. But I am upset beyond measure. One of my boys was seriously injured by a negligent driver. His jaw is shattered and the foot is in jeopardy because he did the right thing. He walked up to the pedestrian crossing, waited for the green light, checked for cars and still he was hit at great speed. This is unforgivable.”
Having been a teacher at the school for 36 years and now a principal, Thornhill said that for years she has been writing and begging the relevant authorities for something to be done to make Bluff Road safer for all pedestrians, not only for the younger learners. “Unfortunately, for 36 years those in charge have favoured the driver, not the pedestrian. The driver should not be hampered by speed bumps or traffic lights because this is a main arterial road, I was told. The driver is permitted to drive at any speed and ignore my “Lollipop” men at the pedestrian crossings. Where are the traffic wardens I have repeatedly requested? Where are those who survey the traffic to report the challenges to the powers that be? Who decided on the dog-leg turn at the garage that has made everything more difficult for those trying to get in or out of Peacehaven Place? Why am I the one standing on the street corner making sure the drivers behave themselves? How many of our children and elderly need to die or be seriously injured by the gross negligence of those who refuse to obey the rules of the road?” she questioned.
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“Two men appointed to help learners across the road, put their own lives in danger every day for a miserable fee from Metro Police. They put up with rude and negligent drivers as they try to help youngsters and elderly people safely across the road. These men are valued by my staff, children and parents because without them, there would be no one. I need someone to get involved with me. I need someone to care. I need someone to agree that this is unacceptable. I want others to fight with me for speed bumps from Spar to the traffic circle. I want someone to tell drivers they can add five minutes to their travel time in order to go over a few humps. I want someone to acknowledge that five minutes for a life is a fair trade. If you will stand with me, please come in and sign my petition at Marlborough Park Junior Primary School.”
Bluff councillor JP Prinsloo, expressed that he is aware of the pressing matter. “This is not the first time that we have seen similar accidents involving learners along this portion of Bluff Road. It has become the norm for motorists to speed along this road ignoring basic road traffic rules. Until motorists become more cognizant of how their driving behaviour directly affects the lives of our children these incidents will never be resolved.
Prinsloo added that previous attempts for eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) to install more traffic calming measures around the school was unsuccessful. “Supporting and signing this petition would create the basis for a strong motivation for ETA to reassess their original decision. I am in full support of the school’s proactive steps in ensuring the safety of its learners and I will do anything I can to assist them in achieving this objective,” he said.
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