Traffic jam stress leads to growing road rage

INCREASED traffic congestion in Cape Town is leading to stress among drivers and incidents of road rage.

Brett Herron, the city’s mayco member for Transport and Urban Development, said the city was looking for viable solutions to alleviate the traffic congestion.

These included improving public transport, increasing parking tariffs and reducing parking bays in the CBD. Herron said there had been a 56% increase in Cape Town’s population in the 20 years between 1996 and 2016, resulting in 160 000 private vehicles entering the central business district each working day.

Weekend Argus spoke to a Pelican Park resident who witnessed a road rage incident in peak hour traffic at the intersection of Rosmead Avenue and Broad Road in Wynberg last month.

Olivia Eccles said: “This aunty gets out of her car shouting, ‘I’m not moving’ and opens her back door, takes out a bat and smashes the taxi’s lights. She then proceeded to tell the taxi driver: ‘Now you go make a case’.”

“I was driving with my son and we were both shocked but we could understand because she’d had enough.”

Eccles said on the days that a traffic cop was present at the intersection, traffic ran smoothly, but things were chaotic at other times.

Vanguard Estate resident Zainub Gamildien said he was tired of the anxiety that came with having to face the traffic every day.

“It’s nerve- racking. I have to mentally prepare myself for the Jan Smuts and Klipfontein road intersection. When I get there I’m scared and nervous because of how people drive. If you abide by the rules, people get impatient and hoot at you.”

Ward 49’s DA councillor, Rashid Adams, said the city had proposed a solution for Lower Klipfontein and Gleemor roads and was awaiting a response from the community regarding feasibility.

“Traffic congestion is problematic on the corners of Belgravia and Klipfontein roads, Thornton and Klipfontein roads and also Jan Smuts Avenue and Klipfontein Road.”

To report any traffic issues call the City on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.

PICTURE: JASON BOUD Athlone resident Gavin Johnson who works as a car guard at the Jan Smuts Avenue and Klipfontein Road intersection. He doesn’t drive himself, but says he has seen many accidents because of drivers flouting the law.