Warning for road users in one of South Africa’s biggest provinces

The Western Cape (WC) government recently issued a warning to all motorists to drive safely and obey the rules of the road, following a spike in road fatalities.

The province experienced a tragic uptick in road-related deaths between 22 and 28 April, which included a long weekend with a public holiday on the 27th.

During this time, 33 individuals were killed in a motoring accident, serving as a grave reminder that South Africa’s roads are more dangerous during the holidays, regardless of how long they might be.

WC officials emphasized the need for increased safety measures, and called for more responsible behaviour from all road users, including drivers and pedestrians.

“Our province continues to lose far too many lives on the road, particularly among pedestrians, who remain the most vulnerable group,” said the Western Cape Mobility Department spokesperson Muneera Allie.

A major contributor to the high number of road accidents is drunk drivers, as 96 people were arrested for driving while under the influence over the monitored period.

“We are also gravely concerned about the persistently high number of drunk driving arrests. These are not just statistics; they represent families, communities, and futures lost,” said Allie.

The WC government highlighted several practices to which motorists and pedestrians should adhere so as to maintain safety out on the roads.

For drivers, it recommends that individuals slow down in residential areas and near schools, and exercise extra caution at night and during low-visibility conditions.

Distractions such as mobile phones should never be used while driving, and motorists are expected to watch out for persons at crossings, intersections, and areas without sidewalks.

Pedestrians are expected to only cross the road at designated crossings and intersections.

Individuals are advised to wear bright or reflective clothing at all times, especially at night.

Avoid walking near the road while under the influence of alcohol, and stay alert by avoiding distractions like texting or listening to music.

Cape Town going carless

The City of Cape Town plans to make the metro more friendly to pedestrians by removing cars from select streets in the CBD.

The initiative is part of a “Mobility and Access Plan” that seeks to encourage the use of public transport while making it easier and safer for people to move around the CBD.

“It proposes some bold interventions to make the CBD more pedestrian friendly and to improve access to and within the area,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

The plan is to create “decongestion zones” by diverting traffic onto bypass roads, allowing for the creation of new areas friendly to cyclists and pedestrians.

“Ultimately, those who work and live in the CBD, and visitors, must find it easy to get to their destinations and a pleasure to move through the area,” said Quintas.

The concept is inspired by the superblock concept used in Barcelona in Spain, which divided the city into new zones with a bigger emphasis on public spaces to improve residents’ quality of life.

Cape Town’s Mobility and Access Plan (MAP) will prioritize public transport along major streets including Darling and Adderley.

Lower-order streets will also be converted from vehicle traffic to pedestrian-friendly spaces to encourage residents to walk to their destinations.

At the same time, “activity streets” such as Bree, Long, and Loop will be supported by the city to encourage local economic growth.

As a result of these changes, anyone travelling by car through these areas will be required to move along high-order bypass routes on roads such as Buitengracht, Buitensingel, Mill, Tenant, and Christiaan Barnard, as well as the Foreshore Freeway precinct.