Douglasdale CPF Sector 4 appeals to motorists to give right of way to emergency vehicles
JOHANNESBURG – The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum Sector 4 has taken to Facebook to appeal to motorists to give right of way to emergency vehicles.
The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum (CPF) Sector 4, has appealed to motorists to give right of way to emergency vehicles when they have their siren on. This appeal on the Douglasdale CPF Sector 4 Facebook page comes after a South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle was blocked from getting through traffic despite having lights and siren active.
“We appeal to all motorists to please give emergency services right of way as response times can be critical in a life or death incident,” said the Dougladale CPF Sector 4 in a Facebook post.
Regulation 298A of the National Road Traffic Act indicates that an emergency lane can only be used when there is a real emergency. But it is no longer the case in South African roads as most motorists use it to avoid being stuck in traffic.
A concerned Twitter user asked the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Chief, David Tembe, to deal with motorists who continue to break the rules of the road.
@AsktheChiefJMPD Hi chief, this is the evidence of taxis and other motorists dring in the yellow line every morning between william nicol onramp and main road bridge and the some more thereafter towards rivonia. Number plates are clearly visible, please engage with them, thanks pic.twitter.com/FrPTpyMWxd
— Cllr David Foley (@cllrfoleyward94) February 1, 2019
However, the appeal from CPF had mixed reaction from people. Some supported the appeal while other users said the police and ambulances turn their lights and sirens on even when there’s no emergency.
Corinne Leigh: “Emergency lanes blocked daily on Main Road and most cars just sit when a siren comes up… come on Fourways let’s wake up.”
Guinny Gilbert: “What kind of person doesn’t give way to an emergency vehicle??? Disgusting.”
Stuart Auton: “Most countries give way to emergency services. This country. Believe that the police are up to no good. It’s a mine set that has to be changed. It’s a shame.”
Related article:
https://fourwaysreview.co.za/228129/douglasdale-community-policing-forum-sign-memorandum-with-metro-police/
