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ESTATE NEWS

SECURITY IN OUR ESTATE

Traffic circles in the Estate • Proceed in a clockwise direction around Two urgent warnings to residents:
In South Africa, there are two types of traffic the painted island, without driving on it. • Cullinan and Boschkop SAPS have warned
circles: A mini-circle and a roundabout. motorists to be vigilant when travelling
The roundabout, however, is still called a on the M10, N4 highway, as well as
traffic circle and signs often still show the old Bronkhorstspruit Road at night.
old traffic circle sign, which is now called Several cases have been reported
a mini-circle. In our Estate we only have where motorists became victims of
mini-circles. hijackings and robberies. The suspects’
modus operandi is to place sharp
The key thing to appreciate is that there objects and nails on the road, with
are two types of traffic circles, and the rules the intention to damage vehicle tyres
are different for each kind of traffic circle. A and prey on the stranded drivers.
mini-circle is very similar to a 4-way stop, Similar incidents were reported by
with similar rules, except at the 4-way stop motorists travelling from Pretoria
there are stop lines and at the mini-circle to Polokwane using the N1.
intersection there are yield lines. With both Motorists are advised not to stop but if
types of intersections the driver must give at all possible keep on driving until you
way to any other vehicle that reaches / In the words of the official legislation: reach a safe place.
crosses such a line before him. • During the last couple of weeks there
Indicates to the driver of a vehicle were a number of incidents whereby
So, to summarise, the differences between approaching a mini circle that he or she owners of luxury vehicles received
a 4-way stop and a mini-circle are shall yield right of way to any vehicle a phone call from an unknown cell
essentially as follows: which will cross any yield line at such phone number, informing them that
junction before him or her and which, in there is a recall on his / her vehicle from
• At a mini-circle there is a small island the normal course of events, will cross the the vehicle manufacturer. They are
hump in the middle of the intersection path of such driver’s vehicle and that the then told that the nearest dealership
that the driver must go around and not
driver shall move in a clockwise direction will send a flatbed towing service to
drive over. A 4-way stop does not have within such junction and attempt not to collect the vehicle as it is not safe to
this. encroach on the mini-circle.
• At a 4-way stop the line is a solid stop line. drive the vehicle. The vehicle owner
is also informed that neither the
At a mini-circle it is a broken yield line. Roundabouts: dealership nor the manufacturer will
• You must obey traffic circle rules at the take responsibility should the vehicle
roundabout.
Other than those differences the two types be driven and an accident occur.
of intersections are quite similar in size and Residents are advised to call the
design. dealership immediately before the
vehicle is collected to confirm that they
A roundabout is different from both of the are indeed aware of the vehicle being
above. It has a large circle that drivers must collected.
drive around in a clockwise direction, giving
way to any vehicle approaching from the
right that is close enough to pose a danger. REMEMBER, SECURITY
STARTS AT HOME.
Something that the above comments will
hopefully clarify is that for a mini-circle it
is pretty easy to see who will cross a line
before you, because the intersection is
small enough to be able to see all the front
vehicles right there, virtually in front of
you, like at any 4-way stop. With a (large)
roundabout, that rule about who crosses a In the words of the official legislation:
line first does not apply.
Indicates to the driver of a vehicle that he
The rules for traffic circles in South Africa or she shall move in a clockwise direction
are as follows: at the junction ahead and he or she shall
Mini-circles:
yield right of way to traffic approaching
• Slow down and give way to other from the right, within the roundabout, Hennie du Plessis
vehicles that cross any yield line before where such vehicles are so close as to Security Manager
you do. constitute a danger or potential danger.

12 INTRA MUROS MARCH 2020