No humps for Tabata St
Zolani Sinxo
The George Municipality says speed humps are not suitable to be used as traffic calming method in Tabata Street, Thembalethu because it serves as the main access road for emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, police, and ambulances.
This follows after a 9-year-old boy died on the way to the George Hospital after he was run over by a taxi on Youth Day, Saturday 16 June, in Tabata Street.
According to eyewitnesses the boy, who was coming from Phelandaba, was on his way to visit his father in Asazani when he was hit by the taxi while crossing the road. It is alleged that the driver (18) was speeding.
Following this incident, councillor Ntombi James together with residents picketed in Tabata Street, calling for the George Municipality to do something about speeding vehicles in the street.
They made speed deterrents, putting bricks across the road and digging shallow ditches.
George Acting Municipal Manager, Charles Lubbe, said another reason why speed humps are not suitable speed deterrents in Tabata Street is that the street is on a future GO GEORGE bus route. Humps can damage the undercarriages of buses.
"The civil engineering services department will investigate the adequacy of existing road signage in Tabata Street and if other forms of traffic calming, other than speed humps, can be implemented.
“The department is in the process of making repairs to the street where people dug potentially dangerous trenches in the road as a makeshift traffic calming measure," said Lubbe.
"Unfortunately, speeding is a driver behaviour problem that is prevalent and increasingly difficult to deal with," he added. "The traffic department intends increasing visibility of traffic law enforcement in the area and will investigate options in dealing with the issues holistically."