You realise that traffic calming measures play a significant role in ensuring the safety of all road-users, particularly vulnerable ones like young children.<\/p>\n
Communities across Ekurhuleni also recognise the need and importance of these measures.<\/p>
Some even go to the extent of damaging roads by unlawfully digging them up to create “speed trenches” that force motorists to slow down.<\/p>\n
The metro has taken note of this trend and wants residents to know that there is no need to take such action – which in some instances is driven by the lack of knowledge on the correct processes to follow to have traffic calming measures installed.<\/p>\n
Thabo Xaba, the father of a three-year-old girl from Katlehong, supports the digging of trenches and the creation of speed humps by residents on municipal tarred roads.<\/p>\n
“Cars speed down the roads, with no regard or consideration that there are children who play in the streets,” he said.<\/p>\n
“As a driver myself, I know that a hole in the road forces a driver to slow down.”<\/p>\n
Another community member Lebohang Montle, who is one of the diggers creating trenches, said he is frustrated by the lack of speed humps on roads in his neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
“There have been five accidents already and one of them resulted in the death of an old man who was hit by a speeding vehicle.<\/p>\n
“The funny thing is that the police and the councillor know about this problem and we have signed more than five petitions.<\/p>\n
“Everyone was involved, the school, the church and the community members all signed but still there are no speed humps,” said Montle.<\/p>\n
Montle’s frustration is shared by many communities; however, the implementation of methods such as speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings and mini-circles is determined by a set of national guidelines.<\/p>\n
Where a need has been identified, residents can apply by filling in a Traffic Calming Measures request form.<\/p>\n
“The metro’s roads and stormwater department evaluates every request for traffic calming measures and implements them as per the national guidelines and policies for traffic calming,” explained manager: roads and storm water at the metro, Phillip Nice.<\/p>\n
“Each request is evaluated and prioritised.<\/p>\n
“When the request is warranted, the oversight committee approves the Preliminary Design Report and then the request is added to the waiting list for implementation.”<\/p>\n Residents are advised to ensure that the form clearly identifies the street name(s) or the affected area, the envisaged position of the traffic calming measure being applied for and a description of the nature of the problem(s).<\/p>\n The request form should have the signature of the ward councillor and all the supporting residents in the affected area.<\/p>\n Communities should take note that it may not be possible to place traffic calming measures, be it if a certain type or any at all, on all roads.<\/p>\n This is because of the classification of roads according to their purpose.<\/p>\n For instance, a Class Three road is a “higher order” road which in terms of the afore-mentioned guidelines does not warrant the installation of physical traffic calming measures.<\/p>\n This is because Class Three roads need to be functional as access and mobility routes.<\/p>\n Implementation of vigilante methods will also, therefore, contribute negatively towards the functionality of the roads.<\/p>\n The Traffic Calming Measures application form can be obtained from ward councillor’s offices.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2014\/11\/46GCNMUNICIPALTREN_586797519.jpg\")
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