Taxi drivers accused of causing traffic congestion
One of the aggrieved motorists, Thembinkosi Zulu, said driving along Maxwell Street is a headache as most of taxi drivers park and offload passengers in the middle of the road
EMPANGENI motorists are urging the City of Umhlathuze’s traffic department to deal with taxi drivers who flout traffic laws along Maxwell Street.
One of the aggrieved motorists, Thembinkosi Zulu, said driving along Maxwell Street is a headache as most of taxi drivers park and offload passengers in the middle of the road.
‘We tolerated this last year while their rank was under construction, but now there is no excuse.
‘They stop and offload passengers where they want, causing major traffic congestion. They have no regard for other motorists,‘ said Zulu.
He said he tried to engage with a taxi drivers about this problem, but he simply swore at him.
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‘I don’t know what was wrong with this man because he was not supposed to offload there. There is a designated facility for them to drop off passengers.
Chairperson of the Ubunye region representing local taxi associations, Sibusiso Nzuza, said they have not received any complaints from the community, but pleaded with passengers to allow drivers to drop them off at the taxi rank and not on the roads.
‘Some of our drivers are pressured by passengers to drop them off at places of their choice,’ said Nzuza.
City spokesman Mdu Ncalane undertook to engage with the taxi operators working in the area to ensure that traffic flows are not hindered.
‘The complaint is new to us, but we urge taxi operators to load and offload at the taxi rank to allow the free flow of traffic in that area,’ he said.
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