Speeding motorists in Goodwood are menacing the lives of primary school children.
Resident Rodney Marsh is worried about the safety of Koos Sadie Primary School children, who, he says, run a daily gauntlet with speeding motorists roaring up and down Merriman, Dirkie Uys, Dingle and Hamilton roads.
Mr Marsh said traffic volumes were high on the roads because of people picking up and dropping off their children from school or taking a short cut to Goodwood Mall.
“We would like speed bumps to be built at those four intersections, so the speeding cars have to slow down when they get to the stop street,” he said.
He had filmed 13 motorists breaking the speed limit in just 10 minutes – one of them had almost hit a child.
The issue is close to his heart because he has lived in Goodwood for 47 years. He is also a former pupil of the school, and his three children are in Grades 1, 3 and 7 there.
The speedsters had either been on their way to or from Goodwood Mall or the surrounding schools, he said.
Principal Albert Smith said there had been some “scary” close shaves, and he had appealed to the community to respect the safety of all road users, especially pedestrians.
He believes a raised pedestrian crossing can solve the problem. A suggestion to build one at the school’s main pedestrian entrance in Dirkie Uys Street had been discussed with the local councillor “some time ago”, he said.
Ward 27 councillor Cecile Janse van Rensburg said she was looking for a solution to the problem.
“There is a proposal that is currently being assessed. The safety of pupils and other road users is a priority, and this will guide the process,” she said.