Traffic came to a standstill yesterday morning on the North East Expressway as traffic officials conducted a road block.Motorists were delayed in a two-hour jam while two roads were closed off for the raid.
Motorist Daniel Schonseldt, who was caught up in traffic soon after noon, said he was on his way to Gonubie when he witnessed the “disorganised” exercise.
“Both lanes on the North East Expressway were closed and it was bumper to bumper for a good 2km.
“This did not make traffic any easier for those who had already been checked and raided.
“What interested and frustrated me most is that there was no policing at the bottom end … motorists who were either guilty or simply pressed for time took a detour on the road by reversing for up to a kilometre and turning around to face oncoming traffic, which was chaotic and dangerous.”
Schonseldt said people turning off from the N2 joined the North East Expressway at high speed only to be faced by oncoming traffic.
“There needs to be supervision on the other end of the raid to actually monitor the culprits that are running away from the roadblock with their traffic fines.”
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi confirmed that the use of the new automatic number plate recognition system was under way on that road.
“We have started operating with the new system already and there are teams that go out and detect warrants and outstanding fines daily.
“At some stages traffic was delayed but we are not operating during peak .”
Ngesi said despite the traffic delay “traffic flow could be quicker if people would come and pay their fines”. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Traffic grinds to a halt as roadblock closes freeway
Motorists were delayed in a two-hour jam while two roads were closed off for the raid.
Motorist Daniel Schonseldt, who was caught up in traffic soon after noon, said he was on his way to Gonubie when he witnessed the “disorganised” exercise.
“Both lanes on the North East Expressway were closed and it was bumper to bumper for a good 2km.
“This did not make traffic any easier for those who had already been checked and raided.
“What interested and frustrated me most is that there was no policing at the bottom end … motorists who were either guilty or simply pressed for time took a detour on the road by reversing for up to a kilometre and turning around to face oncoming traffic, which was chaotic and dangerous.”
Schonseldt said people turning off from the N2 joined the North East Expressway at high speed only to be faced by oncoming traffic.
“There needs to be supervision on the other end of the raid to actually monitor the culprits that are running away from the roadblock with their traffic fines.”
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi confirmed that the use of the new automatic number plate recognition system was under way on that road.
“We have started operating with the new system already and there are teams that go out and detect warrants and outstanding fines daily.
“At some stages traffic was delayed but we are not operating during peak .”
Ngesi said despite the traffic delay “traffic flow could be quicker if people would come and pay their fines”. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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