The City of Cape Town will review the road signage at the bottom of Ou Kaapse Weg near Tokai which has caused confusion among motorists and resulted in a string of hefty fines.
The stop sign has long been the topic of conversation on Facebook community groups with motorists believing it was for heavy vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons only and did not apply to cars.
Milkwood Park resident, Ann MacGregor, said she was under the same impression but her failing to stop at the stop sign resulted in a R1 500 fine.
She said she was not sure where she had transgressed and went to the Green Point traffic department where she viewed the footage.
“I was very surprised when the official told me that I was suppose to stop but the video made it clear that I was not the only one misinterpreting the sign as all the cars behind me also didn’t stop,” she said.
She said there was nothing indicating that the stop sign applied to motorists.
She said she does not intend to pay her fine and is willing to go to court to resolve the matter.
The City’s mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, Brett Herron, said the compulsory stop is specifically for heavy vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons and was implemented after numerous collisions at the bottom of Ou Kaapse Weg where runaway trucks ended up in Silvertree Estate.
He said the signage above “compulsory stop” conveys the message that the lane is intended for use by heavy vehicles only.
“To assist motorists we are reviewing the signage in order to make the message that light motor vehicles should not use the lane, even clearer,” he said.
Mr Herron said the first part of an automated camera enforcement solution has been installed which will monitor transgressions at this site as well as detect which heavy vehicle drivers do not use the compulsory lane.
