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The traffic circle at Tokaza Park Soweto where Rea Vaya busses have right of way and other motorists are left confused as road signs are faded. Picture Timothy Bernard

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A learner driver was first into the traffic circle next to the Moroka police station.

She was in the circle when a Rea Vaya bus full of passengers also entered and started to hoot.

The loud noise and the approaching bus confused the woman. She struggled to get the car into gear and it stalled. Fortunately, the bus waited for her to proceed on her way.

This is one of many scenes that occur frequently in Soweto in the new traffic circles also used by Rea Vaya buses.

Motorists who do not drive there often don't know how to use them.

Constable John Serala, the spokesman for Moroka police station, who witnessed the incident, said it was not the first time; confusion was common.

"There is still some learning that needs to be done. The problem is that some people do not know who has (the) right of way as… they enter the circle.

"There have to be… signs that show how the movement of traffic should be. There also needs to be a campaign on how these circles operate, pamphlets need to be given out and (Rea Vaya) also needs to be part of it.

"Motorists need to have it explained to them why the (buses have) a right of way. Drivers think they have a right of way because they were the ones at the traffic circle first, but it's not like that with these circles," he said.

Synock Matobako of the Johannesburg Emergency Services Management agreed.

He said some accidents they attended to had been a result of people not knowing who had right of way.

"There needs to be more information on the usage of those circles. When people go for a driver's test, they are told that the person at the circle has the right of way, but now, with the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, it's different," Matobako said.

But Thulane Makhubela of the Joburg Roads Agency said the circles followed the "normal rules of the road" and there was nothing extraordinary about them. Neither were the rules contrary to what is taught in the K53 system.

The traffic circles, he said, also gave "right of way" to traffic approaching from the right. However, to accommodate the additional requirement of the Rea Vaya buses, which proceed straight through the centre of the circle, stop signs have been introduced to the circle.

By stopping at these stop signs, motorists can check whether there is a Rea Vaya bus approaching before proceeding safely.

While Serala and Matobako feel that notices should be put up at the circles to inform |road users how they work, Makhubela said it was not common practice to place such boards on site.

"However, the need for public education is important and the Rea Vaya BRT, together with the transport departments, will be running education campaigns in and around the areas where we have erected traffic circles.

"Motorists need to be vigilant at these circles and obey the signage and paint markings on the road.

"If correctly utilised, the traffic circles are safe for all road users," Makhubela said.