How many more accidents need to occur at the Currie and Louis Botha Street crossing in Levyvale, Kariega, before traffic control measures will be put in place?
This question is from a concerned resident Candice van Zyl who informed the UD Express that during the past few years, a total of eight accidents have occurred at this crossing, at which three times vehicles crashed through their boundary wall.
“We’ve seen accident after accident, cars rolling, children getting hurt. Nearly daily we see near accidents at this crossing,” said Van Zyl.
“It is a high accident zone. We’ve been complaining for years about the speeding in Louis Botha and Currie Streets, but no action has been taken from the authorities’ sides. Despite our constant contact regarding the issue, speed humps were rather put up at the golf course where we have never even heard of an accident happening in the same time period.”
According to Van Zyl, drivers jump the Currie Street stop street whilst drivers speed down Louis Botha Street and then the unfortunate perfect timing happens when transgressors of traffic regulations meet by accident and crash straight through their boundary wall. “I’ve been told by the municipality that a traffic study, of which the duration is about two years, needs to be done before any traffic control measures can be put in place.”
On Tuesday, 4 October a third vehicle crashed through the Van Zyls boundary wall.
“It crashed through the wall exactly where I was standing a few minutes before the accident. The previous time a Toyota Hilux bakkie came through the wall, also at the exact spot where my son was playing earlier.
“A four-way stop was suggested, but drivers don’t even stop at the current stop sign. And apparently a traffic circle is not in the budget,” said Van Zyl.
According to Roelf Basson, Ward 51 councillor, the matter will receive urgent attention from his office and an on-site meeting will be held together with Department of Roads and Transport.
Basson suspects that the speed humps in Winterhoek Drive resulted in a traffic increase in the parallel Louis Botha Street. Especially vehicles of which suspensions have been dropped.
“We need to follow the legal procedures and to have a traffic impact study done. We will also request for the road signs to be repainted and visibility needs to be addressed through the removing of branches at the crossing.
“A short-term solution I suggested is the erection of a few cement bollards to add extra safety in protecting lives as well as the boundary wall of the Van Zyl property. A four-way stop might be a solution and of course increased traffic law enforcement,” said Basson.
