Motorists are seeing red after the Durban city council's introduction of new "one-at-a-time" robots.
The new ramp-metering traffic lights, at the intersection of Blue Lagoon Drive and the M4 northern freeway, have confused drivers unaware of the system.
The traffic lights were implemented three weeks ago, and already several motorists have been caught on camera for going through the robots when they were red. The fine for passing the traffic signal when it is red is R500.
The traffic signal only allows one vehicle through at a time to merge with traffic on the M4.
Carlos Esteves, the deputy head of the city's Road Systems Management, said some people had misunderstood how the ramp-metering traffic lights worked.
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He explained: "People have misunderstood the process on the ramp. If there is a car waiting to merge on to the M4, the robot will change quickly, with five to six seconds of red and two seconds of green. If you try and get on to the onramp while the light is red, you will be caught on camera," he said.
In a recent letter to the Daily News motorist Joelan Naidoo said he had experienced the new system while heading home via Athlone Drive on to the M4 after visiting the Stables Fleamarket on a Sunday afternoon.
"I don't know what purpose a traffic light serves on an onramp. I mean, how can it possibly control the flow of traffic, because when it's green it doesn't mean that it's safe to turn on to the freeway. You still have to go further up the on-ramp and yield to oncoming traffic before joining the M4."
He said he turned on to the on-ramp and saw the green light.
"There was a car ahead of me and it had already taken off. I proceeded towards the light when suddenly it changed to red, so I slammed on the brakes and brought the car to a halt.
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