The City of Cape Town has updated the signage of a confusing stop sign at the bottom of Ou Kaapseweg which had motorists digging deep into their pockets after being fined R1 500 for failing to stop.
The new signage, which now clearly indicates that motor vehicles are not allowed in the 3.5 ton truck lane which has a dedicated left lane stop, will hopefully prevent more motorists getting fined.
Last month, the Sentinel reported that Hout Bay residents were also affected by the stop sign (“Motorists frustrated by ‘confusing’ sign”, Sentinel, Friday 27)
Residents say they should not be liable for the fines.
However, the City would not budge, saying motorists could dispute a traffic fine by writing to the traffic department or appearing in person to make representations in respect of the fine.
If the representations were accepted, the fine was reduced or withdrawn, depending on the circumstances.
Alternatively, motorists could argue their case in court.
Cityspokeswoman,Priya Reddy, said the signs had been updated last week to clarify the correct usage of the compulsory stop. She said although the previous signage was legally enforceable, the City had felt it was necessary to clarify things given the numbers of complaints from motorists
However, Ms Reddy did not clarify whether motorists
would be held liable for their fines.
The new signage indicates that all drivers of heavy vehicles, including buses exceeding
3.5 tons must enter the compulsory stop lane and bring their vehicles to a complete halt in compliance with the stop sign and
road markings displayed in that lane.
That safety measure, she added, was intended to reduce the incidence of runaway heavy vehicles.
The signage also indicates that all other vehicles under
3.5tons,includingmost
passenger vehicles, bakkies and SUVs, were prohibited from entering or using the com-
pulsoryheavyvehiclestop
lane.
Ms Reddy said the City would be installing flexible bollards shortly to further reinforce the barrier lines separating the normal traffic lane from the reserved heavy vehicle compulsory stop lane.
The automated enforcement which currently takes place for any vehicle transgressing the stop sign, applicable to the heavy vehicle lane only, will be expanded shortly to include other traffic transgressions such as automated monitoring of vehicles in excess of 3.5 tons failing to
enterthecompulsoryheavy vehicle lane, and or light motor vehicles abusing the heavy vehicle lane.
