It seems Transport MEC Robin Carlisle is serious about curbing road deaths in the Western Cape. He is currently busy considering a raft of radical road-safety measures.
These include banning blue-light brigades transporting VIP’s, 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.
Whether you agree or disagree with his measures, his results are pretty impressive so far. Since he took office in 2009, Safely Home has reduced the road death rate by 29%.
[Source: iol]
