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Motorists using the Buttskop level crossing will possibly soon be under surveillance with plans to install a CCTV camera system at this busy crossing. Photo: Carina Roux
) Motorists ignore signs
Buttskop could get cameras CARMEN JACOBS
The installation of CCTV cameras at the Buttskop level-crossing are possibly in the pipeline for later this year. The announcement was made last week by Hector Elliot, head of ministry, Department of Transport and Public Works. Elliot made mention of this during an on-site visit and progress report by Minister Robin Carlisle of the CCTV camera system at the White Road levelcrossing in Retreat on International Level-Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) celebrated on Thursday 7
June. According to Elliot, drivers in the province using level-crossings are still ignoring stop signs, flashing lights and even booms. The purpose of this camera system would be to record these offences and bring offenders to book. The system in Retreat is a pilot project, the first of its kind in the country, and Elliot says that should this prove to be an effective safety measure at this crossing, it would also be implemented at the Buttskop level-crossing in Blackheath. Replying to how the department will evaluate the success of the sys-
tem, Elliot said: “We will compare the number of boom violations to previous periods, which will provide a good indicator of if people are taking the protection measures at the crossing seriously. “We will also track the summonses that we issue and see if they decline in number over time. Finally we can analyse the footage itself and see if we are getting better compliance.” Driver behaviour and lawlessness at the Buttskop level-crossing were brought under the spotlight when 10 children lost their lives on 25 August 2010, during an horrific train and taxi accident.
Jacob Humphreys, driver of the taxi, who has since been convicted of 10 charges of murder and four of attempted murder has been sentenced to 20 years. He has appealed his sentence and is currently in the process of application for bail. His bail hearing is scheduled for Wednesday 13 June at the Cape High Court. At the time of the incident witnesses reported that he had ignored the lowered booms. In reviewing motorists’ behaviour during ILCAD last week, Elliot said driver behaviour at levelcrossings has improved. “There was only one fatality at a
level-crossing in the Western Cape during the 2010/11 financial year.” Last year TygerBurger reported on the short term safety measures implemented at the level-crossing after the accident, which included new booms, new signage and new road markings. The camera system will be a medium term solution to improve safety, while the ultimate goal, says Elliot, is still to permanently eliminate the crossing. “However, the closure would be for a combination of safety and mobility reasons and will not take place for some years, as it involves a significant bridge and road-building project.”