Concerns over beggars regulating traffic at busy intersections during load-shedding

[mylesillidge]

Beggars playing traffic police during load-shedding are a big risk

The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has raised concerns over beggars, car guards, and street vendors in Gauteng taking it upon themselves to regulate traffic at busy intersections during load-shedding.

High levels of load-shedding has wreaked havoc on traffic during working South Africans' early morning and late afternoon commutes, particularly in large metropolitans like Johannesburg and Pretoria, where there is little power backup for traffic lights.

 

[Grant]

Any port in a storm.

Especially in Cape Town - the wild west of gormless drivers.

 

[MentellusMaximus]

Well we have clowns and thieves governing the country, how bad can beggars directing traffic really be?

 

[Jam Sandwich]

Where is that story about Squirrel promising jobs...
Here you go...

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

they're more complaining about the absence of real traffic officers than the existence of unofficial traffic officers

can't fault them there, can't remember the last time I saw traffic cops directing traffic at busy intersections when the power is down

I did however recently cross such an intersection only to find a bunch of pig cnuts round the corner doing a roadblock to check for expired licenses ... literally 50m from the intersection that could so desperately use their help ... ffs, die in a fire pigs!

 

[My_King]

So what is the AA doing to assist?

 

[G'Wobblez]

Well we have clowns and thieves governing the country, how bad can beggars directing traffic really be?

And it actually helps traffic flow.
I don’t see the problem

 

[MentellusMaximus]

And it actually helps traffic flow.
I don’t see the problem

So of the three groups the beggars are the most useful, guess it makes sense.

 

[Jam Sandwich]

And it actually helps traffic flow.
I don’t see the problem

But whats going to happen when there is an accident, are the insurers going to cough up?

 

[Ejeckt]

Drove past one of these the other day. Dude didn't have a pair of white gloves, so he improved by using white socks over his hands.

Only marginally less silly than if it were a sock puppet with googly eyes.

 

[G'Wobblez]

But whats going to happen when there is an accident, are the insurers going to cough up?

I understand this.

 

[Galactica]

At least they are being useful, filling a vacuum.

 

[s0lar]

Are the outsurance pointsmens still a thing? Saved my arse more than once when I was late for work on rivonia road.

 

[VooDooC]

Yeah I'm sorry I have three massive intersections on my way to work and they are all out when loadshedding. I've seen more accidents at these intersections without these guys than with them directing traffic.

Our traffic police are never at any of these intersections so I welcome these guys trying to help out. If this country and city wasn't so ****ed, they would actually hire and train these guys but no that is way too much effort.

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

Got this at two intersections near Menlyn last week. Both of then there was near accidents. Looked like normal street beggars with just their normal dirty clothes. Some people follow their instructions and just fly straight over the intersection at high speed and other don't follow them and treat it as a 4way stop. Huge accidents waiting to happen.
They seemed more concerned at looking around who is going to give them money than focusing on who must drive when.

 

[G'Wobblez]

Are the outsurance pointsmens still a thing? Saved my arse more than once when I was late for work on rivonia road.

They are on bigger intersections, but there isn’t enough to go around when it’s LS.
So the street guys do the smaller intersections and at the big ones are Outsurance. If everyone os just cautious and keep a bit of sense it works.
at least my experience in my area.

many people don't understand the value of having a purpose. I see these beggars smiling when people thank them and I wonder if it just makes their day a little less horrible. to be seen and have a little purpose. I'm sure people are tipping them some money or food.

 

[HartsockZA]

Metro sit in their combi busses while loadshedding is happening. The only people I see are Outsurance (but they are stretched thin and at times are also becoming just as useless as JMPD & TMPD.
So you know what AA and all the blokes that have opinions in this matter, How's about doing something about it.

 

[Petec]

Any port in a storm.

Especially in Cape Town - the wild west of gormless drivers.

I live in Cape Town, have been to Jhb/overseas quite a bit, and can honestly say that we are the worst drivers in the world.

 

[supersunbird]

they're more complaining about the absence of real traffic officers than the existence of unofficial traffic officers

can't fault them there, can't remember the last time I saw traffic cops directing traffic at busy intersections when the power is down

I did however recently cross such an intersection only to find a bunch of pig cnuts round the corner doing a roadblock to check for expired licenses ... literally 50m from the intersection that could so desperately use their help ... ffs, die in a fire pigs!

Apparently there were 2 TMPD officers directing traffic locally the other morning and residents report is was a royal screwup (massive delays) for one of the roads, which I have seen myself sometimes if JMPD does it.

 

[backstreetboy]

Great news.