Kelvin speed limit is ridiculous
MORNINGSIDE - I recently received a R1 000 fine for exceeding the speed limit on Kelvin Drive, between Clarise Avenue and Gary Avenue in Morningside.
I was recorded doing 67km/h.
This section of road has an inexplicable speed limit of 40km/h through the low-level river bridge. I have travelled this road an average of five times per week for many years, and have never seen an accident. In fact, the only dangerous situation I have seen is when major rainfall has caused the low-level bridge to be underwater – a problem which could easily be solved by cutting drainage holes into the low points on the bridge.
While the municipality has never seen fit to consider this, the Metro police see this stretch of road as a magnificent money-spinner.
If one tries to stay at or below 40km/h an irate queue of traffic builds up behind you, and you’ll probably be overtaken by cyclists!
I would like to challenge any Metro official to accompany me in a vehicle and try to stay within this speed limit.
Another superb example of safety being irrelevant, and cash generation being king.
After reading this article I was rather concerned as I travel along this road. I have not received any Fines by post so thought I would check online and to my horror have 4 fines at this very spot dating back to May 2013 until 9 June, so heaven alone knows what the fines will be upto now end of July 2013.I agree with everything the writer has mentioned.I do think these fines are ridiculous and unreasonable.Furthermore for the same speed on two different occassions( 76-80 km) the fines are different, one is R750 and the other R1500 !!!!!then for a speed of 71- 75 km/h the fine is R1250 !!! R500 More than for the previous speed of 76-80.
I honestly cannot afford these.I always pay any fines I have timeously so as to avail the 50 % discount and most will be like 81 kn in a 70 zone or 71 in a 60 zone….Our Law enforcement will gladly put me in jail for being unable to afford these fines but do nothing about all the murdering robbing scum out there ……..so fed up and I dont have a clue how to approach this.
I too am a victim of this new money making police scam and received a R1,000 fine for doing 69km in this same stretch. I went past his area yesterday to verify that the speed limit was 40km. I was surprised to see this as I had not realized that the speed limit had been changed from 60km. This new 40km speed limit is totally absurd for a busy Sandton road! Even a 50km speed limit would be more realistic! I attempted to drive down this road under the 40km speed limit at 13:00 yesterday, Tuesday lunch time! I was only able to drive down this hill in second gear and had my foot constantly on the break to prevent exceeding 40km. Further to this, I had a long queue of irritated drivers behind me who then preceded to overtake on a white solid line! More accidents waiting to happen! It is obvious that due to this speed limit being almost impossible to obey, that this stretch has now become Metro Cops new favorite hangout…and a very lucrative one! I have no choice but to now avoid using this road.
I received a R750 fine for doing 61km/h, seven weeks after the transgression!!! I thought that zone was 60km/h and in casual conversation I was told there was only 1 sign specifying 40km/h and to be aware of it. So, I have been, then received the fine and went to look and now there is a sign both ways specifying 40km/h. When I tried to have the fine reduced I was told If i’d paid it within 31 days it would have been and when I wanted to appeal I was told it’s past the 62 day period. When I pointed out when i’d received the fine I was told there are other ways for you to check your fines on a regular basis!!!!
Your article relating to “Kelvin Chaos” 23 August 2013 has really bothered me. My gardener who has a peace job in the Kelvin Drive area was fined twice on consecutive days being May 25 th and 26th.He was driving his vespa @ 61km/h and 53km/h respectively.
The first fine was R750 which he was able to pay R375 because of the discount. The second fine he had to pay R250 and did not qualify for the discount because he was ‘late’ for the grace period.Please can someone explain this to me……….,,,He gets the fine on the 26 May and only receives the letter to collect at post office on the 16 August which he goes to pay straight away and he is too late to qualify for a discount ????
Maybe the postal service is not doing their job in delivering on time or is it the traffic department sending out post too late so the victims have no choice but to pay the full amount…………Now as you can see R625 for 2 days fines is a lot of money for a gardener who is trying to earn an honest living…………………Like previous comments before me I find this pathetic and quick means of making money ! GO direct traffic at faulty traffic lights so you can prevent other serious accidents………….It’s easy to sit behind a camera !!!!!!
No need to pay these Kelvin fines for the following reasons:
1. Turning left from Stigling street into Kelvin Drive there is no speed limit sign.
2. There is also no sign indicating that the 40 km zone is now past and speed limit increased back to 60km.
I used this to have 2 fines squashed.
I think that someone must establish whether this reduction in the speed limit from 60km/h to 40km/h was done legally and with the necessary authorisation. This happened in South Road a few years ago and it was discovered that the speed limit was changed without the necessary authorisation where after the limited was changed back to its original limit.
this speed limit has been inplace for a good few years, 12 that i know of thought only enforced every now and again. its actually a hazard when somebody slams on to reduce to 40 for no apparent reason when in a downhill mode. unfortunately with metro, it’s not safety first, its just simply cashing in plain & simple, its what `metro’ do best.