Reducing speed to curb accident rate and special rules to protect cyclists and schoolchildren mooted

IF Western Cape transport and public works MEC Robin Carlisle gets has his its way, existing speed limits in the province will be cut by 10km an hour.

This means the top speed allowed on the province’s highways would be reduced to not top more than 110km-hour.

And the speed limits on roads near shops, schools and other areas with a high pedestrian concentration would be lowered to 40km-h and 30km-h.

The province is busy debating the new provincial traffic bill, which — should it be adopted — would will also make it illegal to drive within 1.5 metres of cyclists.

Furthermore, the bill would make the wearing of seat belts mandatory and place a ban on most blue-light brigades.

The public has until September 20 to comment on the proposals.

When he took office, he said he would reduce deaths on the province’s roads by 50% within five years, and Carlisle says thus far deaths have decreased by 29%.

“We are more than halfway there and we’re quite satisfied that we will make it,” said Carlisle.

He said the biggest obstacles to reducing deaths on roads was speed, drivers and passengers who refused to wear safety belts and “pedestrian behaviour”.

The provincial authorities are also planning to substantially increase the size of the median barriers on the N2 highway to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road, and forcing them to use nearby bridges.

Asked whether he expected challenges to the proposals, Carlisle said he was only expecting “a lot of lively debate”.

“I think some of the politicians are going to be very upset about our blue lights (policy) but I’m not in this game to make mates. I’m in this game to save lives.”