Proposed New speed limits for Cape

[Jan Horn]

110km/h - Cape’s speed limit plan
September 4 2012 at 07:45am
By Murray Williams
________________________________________

INLSA
Cape Town - 120903 - The freeway speed limit might be dropped from 120km/h to just 110km/h.
A raft of radical road-safety measures is being planned for the Western Cape in a bid by Transport MEC Robin Carlisle to further cut road deaths.
Among them are banning blue-light brigades transporting VIPs, tough new child restraint laws, a new 1.5m passing law for motorists overtaking cyclists, and a possible reduction in speed limits across the province as part of the Safely Home campaign.
Carlisle is considering the reduction of speed limits by 10km/h, from 120km/h to 110km/h, and from 80km/h to 70km/h.
Special consideration would also be given to roads which pass shops, schools and other areas with a high number of pedestrians, where speed limits could be reduced to just 40km/h or even 30km/h.
Since Carlisle took office in 2009 Safely Home has reduced the road death rate by 29 percent.
The Western Cape Provincial Road Traffic Bill has been published in the provincial government gazette and is open for public comment until September 20. The bill is in terms of the national act, which gives the MEC the power to make regulations governing road safety matters.

Child-restraint regulations would ban shared seating and mandate the use of seatbelts, rear and forward-facing child seats, and booster seats. Harsh penalties for non-compliance would be applied.

His office described the bill on Monday as “a crucial weapon in the ongoing battle against the carnage on the roads”.
If it is passed Carlisle plans to install the following regulations into law:
The banning of the use of blue lights by VIP transport in the province, unless in the case of a confirmed threat to the life of the VIP. Carlisle's office said: “Blue light convoys of dubious purpose have been repeatedly involved in road trauma incidents throughout the country, and this will no longer be tolerated.”
The introduction of a 1.5-metre passing law for bicycles. The ministry explained: “As cycling, which is already an extremely popular sport in our province, develops into a fully-fledged transport mode, we will take increasing steps to protect bicycle users.” Other regulations Carlisle is considering are several measures to protect children, including:
Child-restraint regulations that would ban shared seating and mandate the use of seatbelts, rear and forward-facing child seats, and booster seats. Harsh penalties for non-compliance would be applied.
Introducing an additional offence for reckless behaviour with children in the vehicle, such as speeding, drunk driving or cellphone use. The penalties for this offence would increase exponentially should the child not be correctly restrained.
Banning overtaking of stopped school buses and scholar transport vehicles, which will concurrently be marked with chevrons and a stop sign.
Regarding seatbelts, Carlisle said: “Worldwide, massive gains have been made through the introduction of compulsory seatbelts.
“In South Africa, we have a major enforcement issue, which the upcoming provincial road safety strategy will address. To strengthen our arm in this regard, we are considering the introduction of personal fines for passengers not wearing seatbelts.”
Carlisle encouraged members of the public to make written submissions on the proposed regulations to the Department of Transport and Public Works before September 20.
“This is a real opportunity for people to suggest new regulations that will save lives.”
Carlisle said. “I understand that some of these regulations could be very controversial. But if we are serious about saving lives then we cannot run away from these crucial debates.”
Carlisle's planned steps against “blue light abuse” come after Premier Helen Zille has repeatedly slammed convoys carrying senior politicians or officials forcing their way through traffic by activating flashing blue lights.
Full story at http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry- ... -1.1375356

[Hennieb]

With some of the proposed laws I agree with and some not. At least they are recognising the accidents caused by arrogant blue light brigades.

[Jan Horn]

I agree with you Hennie. A lot of those proposals may look good on paper but like the talking on a Cell Phone will never be enforced. The lower speed limit will be the one they will concentrate on.

[Rimfire]

I often go trucking down that way and the speed reduction for trucks from 80kph to 70kph will have a huge impact on travel times. Imagine doing the stretch between Beaufort West and Laingsburg (199km) at 70kph! Will just have to plug in some great music and set the cruise control and spend the rest of the time looking out for the Gas Fracking installations as they begin to destroy the Karoo.

[Jan Horn]

And of course the strings of cars waiting impatiently to get past the slow driving trucks. If to judge by the number of idiots that dangerously overtake me at solid barrier lines and blind inclines when I tow my caravan at around 100 km h then I would say reducing the truck speeds would increase rather than reduce the possibility of accidents.

[Hennieb]

With the reduced speed limits, 'Kaap Stad' will most certainly be 'Slaap Stad'.