I have a huge concern regarding the attitude of drivers in OUR town of Louis Trichardt and along the N1. Look at all the accidents happening.

Even if the speed limit is reduced to 5km an hour, it will not make a difference. It seems that there are just so much selfishness and a wrong attitude among drivers in our town. It comes down to lawlessness and no self-respect. I wonder at times, if this is the same way these bad drivers treat their family and friends with such rudeness, because it really shows their personalities that way.
Please, I do ask, request and beg, do mind the way you drive and act when you get into your car, FRIENDLINESS AND JUST TO WAIT FIVE MINUTES WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO PARK THEIR CAR COST NOTHING. TO ALWAYS BE FIRST, MEANS YOU DO NOT ALWAYS GET THE BEST OF SOMETHING.

Drivers who stop at robots with a green arrow, for that lane that can go, please be respectful and give way to those drivers. The young man in a security bakkie of his company will know who he is, did not make any effort to turn, when I hooted at him. He was not in a hurry, does he act this way when on an urgent call-out, and first do his own thing then attend to the client of his company? Because seemingly that is his attitude.

Then I need to be corrected if I am wrong. The trapping of speed along the N1 in the 60km zone – there is no camera sign that trapping is allowed to be done along this road. Should there be one? Is the camera correctly calibrated and do the operator have a licence?

I do thank the traffic officers for the work they do near the weigh-bridge along the N1, pulling off the vehicles that is not roadworthy, or check that licences are up to date etc. – BUT DO THEY NOT REALISE THE DANGER THAT THEY CAUSE. Pulling off at the same time a truck, car or bus right opposite another on both sides of the N1 ... The other motorists coming along at 100 to 120km an hour must now put on breaks to prevent hitting one of the traffic officers, as they sometimes stand in the driving area of the roadway. Why do they not use, as before, the space created off the N1 for this service? Once the motorist has been checked, especially the bus and truck drivers, they are not assisted by the traffic officer to flow safely back into the N1 again. No, they do not care whether a car is coming at 100km an hour and they just carelessly enter back onto the N1 at their own time. THERE IS NO SIGN ONCE AGAIN FOR MOTORISTS TO SLOW DOWN AS THERE ARE TRAFFIC PROCEDURES BEING DONE.

Please I urge the traffic department to make themselves visible between 07:00 and 09:00 and 16:00 and 18:00 in the centre of town, as some motorist jump all the 4-way stop signs, at times at great speeds. No stopping at red robots. Not using a flicker light, which way are you going? Double parking etc. No urinating behind your car! The only time I see traffic officers in town, is when there is an accident that already happened. Then there are five to six traffic cars. So I do believe there is enough officers that can make a HUGE POSITIVE contribution.
This town can be such a safe and happy town, if we all are just a bit patient and considerate to others. A smile costs nothing.

- By Marie Peché (Louis Trichardt)