dyton mupawaenda
EVER since the re-opening of Nemakonde Way to traffic, there has been a marked rise in road accidents.
This has been blamed on human error with public transport operators topping the list of recklessness.
The widening of the road has created room for speeding, which has made life difficult for traffic turning right.
One spot that has seen many accidents is the intersection of Nemakonde Way and West Road in Avondale West.
Police blamed the accidents on the spot to turning errors.
“When a motorist is driving from West Road into Nemakonde Way, there will be a lot of traffic but sometimes they are impatient or they will be driving from Nemakonde Way and turning into West Road.
“Sometimes they are impatient because cars will be moving at a slow speed due to the huge traffic congestion, so accidents recorded there are minor road traffic accidents every two weeks.”
This has seen residents petitioning authorities to install traffic lights at the intersection to reduce or eliminate accidents.
However, the behaviour of motorists on this particular road suggest traffic lights will not be effective.
Motorists are notorious for driving through traffic lights as there are no mechanisms, yet, to catch and punish offenders.
This is where cameras play an important role but currently the motorists are fully aware nothing will happen to them and they will speed through. Traffic lights will not force errant drivers to reduce speed.
Residents have suggested the traffic light at Nemakonde Way and West Road will need to be synchronised with the ones on Belfast Road and Nemakonde Way, a few meters down the road.
The problem is motorists have traditionally disobeyed the traffic lights on Belfast and will continue doing so.
So, as things stand and at this particular intersection, the accidents might even increase with the installation of traffic lights.
Speed humps seem the most effective way to calm the speeding traffic as they help control speeding traffic.
As an international standard, speed humps are often placed on sharp turns before crossings, entrances and exits, and other accident-prone areas.
And in this case, the intersection of Nemakonde Way and West Road.
Unlike traffic lights, speed humps force drivers to slow down whether they like it or not and in the process they reduce accidents, also helping pedestrians to cross the road safely.
Traffic along West Road is relatively less because motorists dislike the speed humps on the road.
That is how effective speed humps are and the very reason they should be installed near the intersection of Nemakonde Way and West Road.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter