More barriers for M4

INLSA

A number plate, nailed to a tree in what appears to be a roadside memorial on the M4, was found not far from the scene of Sundays accident, which claimed the lives of seven people. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo

The eThekwini Municipality’s roads department is considering installing new safety devices along certain stretches of the M4 highway to prevent more fatal accidents.

After numerous deaths on the highway in recent years – seven people died when two motorbikes collided with a car on Sunday – city officials are working on a safety report that would recommend the type of features that are needed.

“We are looking at more guard rails to separate opposing traffic and concrete or Armco (corrugated steel) barriers to prevent vehicles from overtaking on to oncoming traffic,” Carlos Esteves, the municipality’s deputy head for road system management, said last night.

Because of the traffic volumes on the M4, it would not be practical to install speed calming mechanisms, he said.

“We are looking at installing additional safety features where the (highway) curves.”

The M4 had been dubbed “Death Valley” by Durban North residents because of the number of fatal crashes.

In February 2010, a British man was killed when the car he was driving collided head-on with a city-bound articulated truck on the M4 near the umhlanga River Bridge.

In December 2009, Rajeev Jewnarain’s family – including his wife and only son – were killed when a car apparently crossed the centre island and collided with their Audi, travelling in the opposite direction.

At the time, there were calls for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport to install permanent speed cameras and and other devices at high accidents zones along the highway.

While acknowledging that the M4 was a “hazardous” highway, the department’s spokesman, Kwalane Ncalane, said that the installation of permanent speed cameras might not have the desired effect.

“Cameras cannot do more than what the visible law enforcement is doing and they won’t help when it comes to people who disregard the rules of the road,” he said.

“On the N2 and N3 people know the speed limit and there are cameras there, but people still disregard the rules of the road.”

Sunday’s crash claimed the lives of five members of a La Mercy family who had been on their way to Redhill Cemetery in Durban to lay flowers at the grave of a loved one who died two years ago – also on the M4, near La Lucia.

Ashlin Roopnarain, 22, his sister Criselda, 19, their mother, Veni, 42, her four-year-old nephew, Jodash Naicker, and Veni’s father, Harry Naicker, 66, died when their car burst into flames when it was hit by two motorbikes, one of which had overtaken another vehicle.

The bikers were John Julius and Piet Viljoen, of the Bluff, who were out on a breakfast run with fellow members of the Revolution Motorcycle Club.

“They had planned to spend the rest of the day with their children and wives at a braai at Blue Lagoon to celebrate Father’s Day,” said club president Clive Pillay.

He said Julius, an engineer, was married and had a child, three-year-old Jamie, and Viljoen, a motor mechanic, was survived by his wife.

“They were both experienced riders, having ridden for over 20 years,” Pillay said.

Pillay said the pair loved celebrating life and had been living in Durban for about three years, after Viljoen had relocated from Johannesburg and Julius from Cape Town.