- The De Grendel Avenue traffic circle in Bothasig experienced another car accident over the weekend, causing damage but no injuries.
- In response, giant yellow plastic barriers have been installed to improve visibility and safety.
- These barriers aim to reduce accidents by screening headlight glare and forcing slower speeds.
The De Grendel Avenue traffic circle and island at the entrance to Bothasig has seen yet another car accident occur at the site this past weekend.
A motor vehicle crashed at the site, causing significant damage to the car, pavement and barriers next to the road, the Bothasig Residents Association (BRA) reported on Sunday.
Fortunately no injuries were reported and the driver of the vehicle managed to walk away, they say.
Giant yellow plastic barriers have now been installed to improve visibility at the site, which in the past has seen several motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents, in some cases leading to the loss of life.
Request for safety measures
TygerBurger last week approached Mario Borchards, BRA chair, to find out what has been done recently.
The organisation has lodged several complaints about the traffic circle, requesting flashing warning lights and better signage in the area.
“According to feedback from the City of Cape Town, the plastic barriers were recently placed as an interim measure related to the final road markings and signage proposal at this crash-prone site. In addition, the City stated that due to alignment and lighting issues at night, it appears that some of the crashes may have occurred because of oncoming vehicles’ headlights. It is hoped that the barriers will screen these headlights and consequently reduce the number and severity of crashes.
READ MORE | Traffic circle concerns: ‘Bothsig traffic circle need flashing warning lights’
“Furthermore, the City informed us that at a recent discussion with their transport engineering consultants – who have just completed a nationwide study of larger traffic circles and roundabouts for Sanral – it was confirmed that restricting sight distances on the approaches is the preferred and safer method, as it forces motorists to adopt slower approach speeds.
“The measures implemented at De Grendel Avenue traffic circle are therefore in line with this latest research and thinking,” Borchards says.
Residents have stated that the plastic barriers are a bit high, and visibility of the cars in the circle is not great when entering the circle.
However, it seems like there are fewer accidents than before. The visibility at night is better than previously, he explains. “In March 2024, I sent an email to Subcouncil 3 regarding the issues at the circle, and on Plattekloof Road. While many responses were received, the placement of the plastic barriers was the first tangible difference observed,” Borchards says.
City responds
Rob Quintas, Mayco member for urban mobility, was also approached for comment, and asked what development had taken place, since the last time issues were raised.
He explained the safety measures in place, and why this option was decided on. “The City has identified headlight glare from oncoming traffic as a major contributing factor to motorists not ‘seeing’ De Grendel central island. We have therefore installed yellow plastic barriers with the aim to firstly improve the visibility of the central circle by way of the yellow barriers and retroflective tape applied to them and secondly, screen the headlights of oncoming traffic
“Thus far we are satisfied that the barriers have achieved both above-mentioned objectives. Furthermore, if the circle is approached with caution, as one should, there is sufficient sight distance of other traffic in the circulating roadway to safely identify gaps and enter the roundabout,” Quintas says.
READ MORE | One person killed in another accident at notorious traffic circle in Bothasig
Research shows that where there is excessive sight distance, motorists tend to “attack” the circle at speed, whereas with limited sight distance, motorists are forced to approach with due caution, he says.
“The plastic barriers are ultimately portable and are removeable. We would however like to leave these measures in place to give this trial a reasonable period of time to gauge their impact on traffic safety. We have ultimately installed these with a view to taking prompt and positive action in response to recent requests for safety improvements at this site,” says Quintas.
He adds: “If it is determined that the measures bring about an improvement, consideration can be given to more permanent solutions such as landscaped aesthetically pleasing solutions which achieve the same objectives.”
Miquette Temlett, Ward 5 councillor, has also raised concerns about the circle in the past.
“I have personally undertaken two separate site visits to the circle in heavy rain, one in the dark and another in the evening. I have video recordings which I can make available on request. I am satisfied that the barriers have achieved both above-mentioned objectives,” says Temlett.
