Steph Mellor, Simon's Town

Residents in Simon's Town have frequently complained about speeding, particularly along the main road, leading to the City introducing a new 40km/h speed limit and increased enforcement efforts, as well as Runciman Road.

Although it states that traffic calming measures are implemented on class 4 collector streets and class 5 local streets in residential areas, with roads adjacent to and leading to schools being a primary focus, .

We run and hike along these roads every morning and had close encounters with speeding taxis, parents running late for school, members of the SA Navy and other motorists as well as the Golden Arrow busses that ignore the speed limit and do illegal U-turns everywhere.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Problem: Excessive speeding, especially during peak hours, has been a persistent issue in Simon's Town, particularly on the main road leading into town.

Response: The City of Cape Town has acknowledged the problem and implemented a new 40km/h speed limit on the approach to Simon's Town and traffic services are actively enforcing speed limits along Simon's Town Main Road.

In Simon's Town, the City of Cape Town's traffic calming policy aims to protect vulnerable road users, particularly in residential areas near public facilities, with a focus on roads adjacent to and leading to schools.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Policy focus: The City of Cape Town's Traffic Calming Policy prioritises areas with high concentrations of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, especially near schools and public facilities.

Types of Measures: Traffic calming measures include speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, raised intersections, and traffic circles.

Prioritisation: The City prioritises traffic calming measures based on land use activity and crash history to determine risk potential.

Specifics in Simon's Town: The City of Cape Town officially changed the speed limit in Main Road, Simon's Town, on Tuesday May 31 from a 60km/h zone to 40km/h.

The City's mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas responds:

The Main Road through Simon’s Town is a class 3 secondary arterial public transport and emergency route, where mobility needs to be maintained.

Physical traffic calming measures are not deemed appropriate on roads of this nature. Roads of this classification do not fall within the ambit of the traffic calming policy.

Speed reduction and enforcement thereof is the appropriate measure to regulate speed. Traffic calming measures will not discourage U-turning vehicles.

It is correct that the City of Cape Town has acknowledged the problem and implemented a 40km/h speed limit. Traffic Services also enforce speed limits along Simon's Town Main Road.

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