Crossing the big divide
Pedestrians crossing the N2 between the Pacaltsdorp bridge and the Garden Route Mall, has been an increasing problem for years. Despite a number of pedestrian bridges erected over the years, some people still choose to cross the highway.
Not only could this be fatal, but it is also illegal.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it has over the years conducted a number of studies about pedestrian activity, especially on or along the freeways.
"Overwhelmingly, the number of pedestrians crossing the freeway by means of a pedestrian bridge by far exceeds the number of pedestrians crossing the freeway in the same area," says Randall Cable, Sanral's western region manager. He says Sanral conducts regular road safety activations aimed not only at motorists, but all road users, including pedestrians.
"In George, road safety education events were linked to the construction of the Thembalethu bridge and Sanral continues to engage road users promote road safety education," he says.
Safer crossing the highway
Regardless of the legalities of jaywalking on the N2, residents in the area say it is safer for them to cross the highway than use the pedestrian bridges at certain times of the day.
"It's dangerous to cross the pedestrian bridges. Many people have been mugged and robbed, so we'd rather risk crossing the highway. It's safer," said one resident.
According to a number of residents in the area, as well as comments that were made on Facebook after the latest pedestrian fatality on the N2 when a 27-year-old man from Reigerpark, Bradley 'Milky' Baardman, was hit and killed by a bus near Lawaaikamp on 24 March, robbers wait for pedestrians to cross the pedestrian bridges, block the entry and exit and simply take what they want. Another resident of the area says some of the pedestrian bridges are too far from where people live, so they rather cross the N2.
In terms of legislation, no pedestrians and/or cyclists are allowed on a national road (highway).
Local traffic departments have no authority on the N2, including the foot bridges, as the full road reserve of a national road falls under the responsibility of Provincial Traffic. Local traffic departments will however on occasion join Provincial Traffic and their road safety division for awareness campaigns.