Residents along St Audley Road in Bryanston have been pushing for action after concerns about speeding, alleged street racing and repeated crashes.

More than 120 households signed a petition asking for traffic-calming measures, but the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says speed humps cannot be installed on the road.

Why were speed humps rejected?

Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says St Audley Road is a Class 3 arterial road, where speed humps are not allowed under the City’s traffic-calming policy.

National road guidance also says speed humps are best suited to local collector and access roads, especially residential streets where moving large volumes of traffic is not the main purpose.

So even when residents support a petition, engineers still have to consider the type of road and how it is meant to function.

What could happen instead?

Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says it investigated traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, road markings and the layout of St Audley Road.

It has recommended a raised pedestrian crossing opposite the bus stop, particularly to help learners from the nearby school cross more safely.

That could improve safety for residents, even though it is not the speed-hump solution they originally requested.

Speeding is still being looked at

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the department would investigate reports of reckless driving and alleged street racing on St Audley Road.

He said regional teams and the high-speed unit would increase patrols and enforcement in the area.

A guardrail installed at a dangerous bend earlier this year has also helped protect nearby property during subsequent crashes, although residents say it does not solve the underlying speeding problem.

The Bottom Line

Residents did not get the speed humps they asked for, but the issue has not ended there.

A raised pedestrian crossing is now being proposed, while the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department says speeding and alleged racing will receive more attention.

The useful lesson is that traffic calming is not one-size-fits-all. The safest solution depends on the type of road, how people use it and where the greatest risk lies.