The Arrive Alive website received an email earlier today from a road user expressing concern with the condition of some of our roads. We would like to share this:
“For the past three years I have been travelling to Vryheid over the December Holidays and always use the R50 Delmas, Leandra, Standerton road. For the third year in a row i have suffered damages due to the horiffic potholes in the road just outside Leandra on route to Standerton. I am an extremely careful driver and had my drivers lisence for 23 years already. Some areas in the road are just big holes. I had to replace two rims, two tyres and a windscreen (hit by stone - passing truck). The last incident 22 December 2009 I had a punctured tyre, buckled rim and myself and my child was stranded next to the road at 05:30 on a deserted road - which was extremely upsetting for my child due to the high incidents of hijacks and attacks.
That road defnitely needs attention as you do not have to be under the influence of alcohol or speeding to make an accident. The dangerous road makes itself open for it. It is time to look at the state of the roads in the arrive alive campaign and not always blame dangerous driving and speeding as the cause of deaths. That road can kill!! The excess I have to pay on my insurance claim is not worth losing my no claim bonus therefore I have to repair it in cash.”
This was referred to the Department of Transport and a response was received:
Hi Amanda,
Let me first thank you for raising such a serious concern that could lead to road crashes on our roads.
The same stretch of road you referring to I am familiar with it as I was also a victim of those potholes on 20 December on my way from Northern KZN. I had to change two of my tyres that were damaged on that road.
Roads such as those, they are the responsibility of the municipality in that area and we have over the years advised the Mpumalanga Province about that area. We hope that with all the concerns flooding from the members of the public they will take a quick step in attending to the problem. I am going to forward your mail to them and will ensure that they do something about it.
Thanks once again.
Regards,
Dikotsi Sekatane
Department of Transport
Private Bag X193
Pretoria
0001
4 Comments Received
January 13th, 2010 @11:16 am
Not keeping it a long letter, but have you seen the road from Heilbron in the Freestate to the N3? I’ve never seen so many potholes in my life, it’s really ridiculous as I think they could just aswell close the road. I wouldn’t want to travel that road at night.
January 26th, 2010 @2:08 pm
On the 24th December 2009 I had 4 tyres burst and 2 buckled rims at the same spot mentioned by Amanda. I had to leave my wife and 3 kids on the road for many hours and had a friend come all the way from Brakpan to transport me and the 4 wheels to Standerton to have the tyres replaced. The whole exercise has cost me more around R8000 which I had to pay from my pocket. I would like to claim compensation from the relevant authorities, I took photoes of the potholes and the damage to my car and also reported the incident to the Standerton Police Station. Could you please assist.
February 5th, 2010 @8:20 am
Hi Dumi
When I returned I travelled to Standerton, turned off on Heidelberg Road to N3 back to Pretoria. A much better road to travel in the future.
February 26th, 2010 @9:50 pm
I drove on the stretch of the R50 fron the R547 to the N17 (20 km) today. I encountered 4 vehicles with flat tyres on this stretch of road. At one point while trying to avoid a crater and oncoming traffic I hit another crater with my vehicles two left wheels. I drove until about 15 km from Delmas and got stuck with 2 flat tyres. I had to have my vehicle towed to Delmas where I bought a new tyre. The other tyre must still be replaced.
Who is reponsible and accountable for the upkeep of this road? Who is going to reimburse me for the damages?
Leave A Reply