I am writing to you out of desperation as all my pleas to the Traffic department have fallen on deaf ears. Hope this finds space in your letters column.
On Mondays in Little Falls and Strubens Valley there is an explosion of reclaimers with their trolleys in various states of disrepair. These people have no regard for traffic rules and take up a whole lane as bags hanging from the side of the trolley make it even wider. This is causing traffic to back up in peak times and frustration among motorists.
My hair-raising experience was going through the pass toward Ontdekkers when I came around the corner to find one of these people in the middle of my lane. I slammed on brakes and tried to swerve but was blocked as a car was passing me on my right. Luckily the speed limit is 60km/ h and a serious accident could be avoided. However, as you will know from near misses like this an accident will happen if no action is taken. Then the man has the cheek to give me the finger.
They pay no fees to use the roads and should be banned, alternatively there should be strict law enforcement and rules laid down. As it is now, it is a free for all.
Proposed actions:
1. They should not be allowed to operate before 9am and after 4pm.
2. They should be banned from main roads such as Hendrik Potgieter, Christiaan de Wet, Jim Fouche, Ontdekkers etc.
3. They should be forced to wear bright safety vests.
4. They must be instructed to keep to the very left of the road.
5. Trolleys need to be in a good state of repair. I have seen a few just abandoned in the road with a wheel missing.
6. They must clean up the area around a bin they have reclaimed from. I have to clean up after them every week.
These rules should be enforced by the Traffic Department as it is becoming a problem for motorists.
