The City of Cape Town says most heavy vehicle drivers are complying with newly introduced safety measures on Kloof Nek Road, following a series of runaway truck crashes that raised concerns about road safety on the steep descent.
The intervention requires vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes to stop near the top of Kloof Nek and engage a low gear before continuing downhill. The measure was introduced after several serious incidents involving heavy vehicles, including a cement truck that crashed into multiple vehicles.
Speaking to VOC News, the City’s Head of Transport Planning, Garth Elliott, said the changes were introduced after an engineering assessment identified the compulsory stop as the most practical solution.
“Those incidents highlighted the need to do something. We became aware of a comparatively high incidence of runaway heavy vehicles, and they have the potential to cause significant damage, serious injuries and even fatalities,” Elliott said.
He explained that warning signs have been installed before the descent, directing truck drivers to engage a low gear, while the compulsory stop gives motorists an opportunity to ensure they are in the correct gear before proceeding.
Elliott said early observations suggest compliance has improved since the measure came into effect.
“It’s still early days, but from our observations last week, compliance was above 80%, and possibly even 90%,” he said.
The City plans to introduce automated camera enforcement to monitor compliance and issue fines to motorists who fail to stop.
While the intervention is still being assessed, Elliott said similar measures could be considered on other high-risk roads if they prove effective. However, he stressed that road safety ultimately depends on motorists following the rules.
“Driver behaviour remains the biggest variable. Our role is to create an environment that encourages safer driving and reduces the risk of serious crashes,” he said.
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