GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Driving down Breë Street, a road that carries heavy traffic between Kroonvale and Asherville, is a much bumpier and slower experience these days. But hopefully also much safer.

This follows after the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality Community Services Department installed traffic calming devices in the form of yellow and white speed bumps and a pedestrian crossing, on Friday 8 June.

Breë Street in Kroonvale, flanked by houses on one side and veld on the other, links the community to town and is used by children who attend school at Spandau Senior Secondary and Kroonvale Primary.

Boy killed

Speeding and inconsiderate road users has been a safety concern in Breë Street for many years.

In February last year an accident on the road claimed the life of Julian Andrews (10), who died when he was hit by a car as he crossed the road. At the time of this tragic event, Alistair Sylvester, who lives on Breë Street, told the Advertiser how his pleas for speed bumps to be erected have fallen on deaf ears over the years.

Plea for speed bumps

Sylvester said his concern for the safety of pedestrians motivated him to write a letter to the municipality in October 2018, requesting speed bumps. Ten residents signed the letter that was delivered to Chris Rhode, the municipality's Road Safety Manager at the time.

When it became clear to Sylvester that a positive response from Rhode was unlikely, he escalated the matter within the municipality.

In February 2019 he received a written response indicating that his request for traffic calming measures could not be considered, since it was not included in the plans and budget for that financial year.

Sylvester also approached the DA Ward Councillor, but despite promises there was no progress.

Councillor Joy Williams welcomes the much-needed and long-awaited speed bumps.

Fortuin to the rescue

DA Ward Councillor, Joy Williams, says she has been pleading for speed bumps in Breë Street and zebra stripes in front of Spandau Secondary since 2019. "There was no pedestrian crossing, and the traffic posed a danger to the learners."

 She says nothing was done until Dennis Fortuin was appointed as the municipality's Acting Head of Protective Services this year. 

According to Williams, Fortuin immediately intervened when she raised the issue. "After all the pressure that was put on the municipality over the past years, the distress calls were finally heard."

See the 2022 article, Plea for speed bumps fell on deaf ears.

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