Trucks that weigh more than 16 tons are to be banned from Field’s Hill, the scene of a killer truck crash two months ago.
|||Durban - Trucks that weigh more than 16 tons are to be banned from Field’s Hill, the scene of a killer truck crash two months ago. But smaller trucks would be allowed to continue using the road.
Long-term measures would see the building of an additional lane on Field’s Hill, the introduction of concrete barriers along the route, streetlights and an improvement of on- and off-ramps.
“An arrestor bed will also be constructed,” said Transport MEC Willies Mchunu.
He told the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday that a total ban on trucks was impossible as the road was a major artery into one of Durban’s biggest economic hubs. At present, trucks bigger than 25 tons are not permitted on the road.
In his address on how the busy M13 could be made safer following the accident that claimed 24 lives in September, Mchunu said the Transport Department had worked with the eThekwini Municipality, residents, the freight industry and the business community to come up with safety measures.
Some of the steps were already being implemented, and plans for the full implementation of the safety steps were under way.
Mchunu said there would be further investigations into other law enforcement interventions, including electronic surveillance technology, a weigh-bridge, vehicle testing and changes to traffic legislation.
Mchunu said “Operation Phezukwabo”, which has been targeting law-breaking truckers, had led to 214 trucks being suspended from KZN’s roads over the past two months.
“We believe these restrictions will act as a deterrent for trucks, and make them avoid this route,” he said. However, there was an appreciation that the area was both residential and commercial.
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There are companies that are using trucks to deliver in the area. The measures are sensitive to the need to safeguard commercial and business activity, which has to be supplied by these trucks on a daily basis,” he said.
After the meeting, when the trucking industry was canvassed for comment, they said they
welcomed Mchunu’s measures, and promised to comply with the law.
Truckafrica’s Samson Naidoo said the company welcomed the steps.
“They should ban trucks from using that road altogether. My company does not use that road, only fly-by-night companies use it to avoid the tollgate.”
Durban Harbour Carriers’ Association chairman Kevin Martin, who was part of the team that worked on establishing the safety measures, said they had now pushed 70 percent of heavy trucks off the M13.
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The minister and his team have done so much to improve safety. This is just the beginning, and I hope the minister will make further announcements very soon,” said Martin.
The DA’s Radley Keys said the department should have cut the eligible truck size to five tons.
“Only trucks delivering to local businesses should be allowed to use the road,” he said.
The ANC’s Linda Hlongwa said MPLs should support Mchunu instead of criticising the proposed actions.
“We have cried enough, now let us come with solutions,” she said.
The IFP’s MPL Lindani Mncwango rejected Mchunu’s report as “toothless” and lacking a timeframe, saying: “This is a whole lot of English, which does not help.
“It is promises with nothing being done.”
bongani.hans@inl.co.za
The Mercury