Disabled demand safer roads

Disabled workers met City officials, taxi associations and other stakeholders to raise public transport concerns and issues of road safety.
CROSSING the bustling streets of the Johannesburg CBD can be a daunting task for sighted pedestrians; for those who are blind it can be life-threatening.

Transport officials tackle issues of road safetyTransport officials tackle issues of road safetyYet this is the daily gauntlet run by Hanif Kruger, a blind man who commutes from Pretoria to Johannesburg with the help of his guide dog. Each day, Kruger runs the risk of being run over as motorists do not obey the rules of the road and are inconsiderate of blind people and other people with disabilities.

“In most instances, you find that a taxi driver just drives through when the robot is opened for me to cross,” he says.

“I do not have sight. I rely on my sense of listening to read the traffic and when it is time to cross I must cross, otherwise I will be late for work. But motorists, especially taxi drivers, make it extremely difficult for us because they do not follow the rules.”

Kruger also claims that he is harassed by taxi drivers for bringing a dog to the taxi rank. “One taxi driver once told me that blind people were not his business, and he did not allow me on his taxi.”

Disability
Given the harassment on public transport he has experienced, and the lack of safety on the roads, Kruger gathered with representatives from various departments, managers and stakeholders responsible for transportation in the City to speak about his plight and that of many other people with disabilities. They met at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newton on 11 November.

At the meeting were representatives from the City’s transport department, the provincial department of community safety, taxi associations and other stakeholders involved in transportation, as well as disabled people.

But Kruger was not only about complaining; he also had solutions. “I would be happy if we could have more traffic marshals, the Johannesburg metro police and the SAPS visible at all times to ensure that motorist do not break the rules of the road,” he said.

Another plea was directed to the City’s transport department to repair dysfunctional traffic lights, as broken lights made it almost impossible for blind people to cross roads. “In cases where traffic lights are out of order it becomes a nightmare as motorists are inconsiderate of us. We do not know when to cross or stop.

“Having traffic buzzers will be a plus. We also call for traffic marshal visibility at main intersections to monitor the traffic,” he said.

Traffic lights
In many cities, a buzzer sounds when traffic lights are green for pedestrians. This alerts blind and partially sighted people that it is safe for them to cross the road.

Traffic lightsSome traffic lights have buzzers to alert disabled peopleIt is estimated that about 40 to 50 people with disabilities work in the Joburg CBD for banking companies, many of whom travel on public transport, according to Kruger.

Standing alongside him at the meeting was his colleague, Simon Dube, who is also a blind and relies on a walking stick for guidance.

He said not all motorist were inconsiderate of blind people “We can’t go around blaming everyone. Not all motorists are bad – actually the message must be directed to taxi drivers; they are the main culprits.”

Dube said a campaign to highlight the challenges faced by blind people and people with disabilities would be a solution. “This must be held in largely crowded areas such as Simmonds, Jeppe and Sauer streets.”

Safety
Responding to the concerns raised, Eunice Phantswa, the specialist communication and marketing officer in the City’s transport department, said Joburg had already started various road safety campaigns ahead of the festive season and pedestrian safety was one of the key focuses.

“We have partnered with the Johannesburg metro police department and emergency management services to run campaigns in informal settlements and main intersections, where we talk to drivers and pedestrians about road safety.”

She said the City was aware of the challenges encountered by people with disabilities and that they would be prioritised to ensure that it provided a conducive environment for them.

“We have started engaging constructors who leave manholes open to close them, as this can pose a serious danger to those on wheelchairs and without sight.”

Also giving input, Lerato Lekalakala from the Gauteng department of community safety vowed to mobilise support from the Office of the Premier to assist in staging a road safety campaign in December.

Delegates at the meeting agreed that a campaign would be held under the theme “Persons with disabilities as pedestrian/commuters”. They would reconvene on 25 November for feedback and outlining the strategy of the planned campaign.