A concerned resident has informed the Record that motorists have turned Nassau Street into a Kyalami-type racing track.
“This is very concerning, because the high speeds used by motorists endanger the lives of our fellow residents as well as other motorists who use that street.”
It was also mentioned that a few years ago there was a request for at least four speed bumps to be installed in Nassau Street, but no feedback has ever been received on the issue. “Nassua Street is a nightmare for any law-abiding driver, never mind the pupils of the primary school. I believe something will be only done when somebody gets killed or seriously injured,” he added.
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https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2017/10/18/photos-illegal-street-racing-leads-to-vehicle-pedestrian-accident/
In response to the matter, Ward 71 councillor René Benjamin said, “I am aware of the issue on our streets. Unfortunately, it is not just Nassau Street that is a problem – there are many others. I communicated with JRA about raising the painted pedestrian crossings on Nassau Street some time ago, firstly for the safety of the students who cross the road and secondly to calm the traffic. The request was turned down, although the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department placed a Scholar Patroller on the road to assist learners and residents crossing over. I had even had conversations with the Patroller from JMPD, who told me how difficult it was at times because of the speedsters.”
Benjamin also mentioned that the JMPD has in the past done speed trapping on the road and a request for more of this will be put through to them again. “Unfortunately, the road is not the problem – it’s the people who use it. We can put up all the speed calming measures we like, but it does not change the behaviour of the motorists. I have seen places where raised pedestrian crossings have been installed, and yet the moment vehicles cross them, they speed up and continue racing.
Just off Nassau Street is Fiskaal Street, which runs down to Bastion Hoërskool. The residents in this road have to deal with a high number of ‘flyers’ who use it as a shortcut to get to the school, but these motorists don’t care that they are putting the residents and the pedestrians at risk,” she explained.
