Drunk drivers slammed after two cyclists killed

[ABCpt]

It very much is a freeway at that section...

https://www.google.co.za/maps/@-29....4!1sw17MPSOLiXku0aJYBlJ94A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Cool, thanks for clarifying. Thought it might be similar to the M3 in Cape Town where there are robots every 50m.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Really don't know how you can miss seeing a group of cyclists at that point, it at the end of a long straight, even taking into account that the driver was drunk...

You can't miss them...

BUT, were the cyclists legally allowed to be there also needs to be asked... and as cruel as it may be, if they weren't all the cyclists should be fined.

 

[ponder]

I don't suppose the other 38 will be fined for cycling on a freeway.

Is the M4 officially classified as a freeway or is the journalist just calling it that?

Even a N road is not always a freeway.

 

[Cray]

You can't miss them...

BUT, were the cyclists legally allowed to be there also needs to be asked... and as cruel as it may be, if they weren't all the cyclists should be fined.

Agree, as much as this was the primarily the fault of the drunkard, cyclists aren't allowed on freeways for a reason. It's not like there are no alternative roads in that stretch either.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Is the M4 officially classified as a freeway or is the journalist just calling it that?

Even a N road is not always a freeway.

Well it is officially classed as the Ruth First Highway....

 

[Pitbull]

Strange fact.

I didn't know all odd number roads go North to South, even numbers East to West /interresting

 

[Cray]

According to Wikipedia...

The sections between the airport and the southern edge of the CBD, and the northern edge of the CBD and the exit to Umhlanga are classified as freeway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_road_(Durban)

Northern edge of CBD would be around DCC I guess...

 

[SinghDude]

The only time that cyclists are allowed on the M4 is when the roads are officially closed and used for an event.


The driver should be charged for culpable homicide.


Ethekwini had spent millions developing the promenade from Ushaka , down to Blue Lagoon and it stretches across to Moses Mabida on NMR.


Cyclists should cycle in demarcated areas, same like the stupid pedestrians that walk/cross the M4 in peak hour traffic.

 

[Sneeky]

The area where they were hit has an absolutely massive emergency lane (the size of a normal lane) which the cyclists were using. The driver who hit them was drunk and racing against another car. Story goes that these two were racing and he tried to pass the other car using the emergency lane, came round the corner going way to fast and hit the cyclists.

Looked like a pretty straight road heading S -> N before the bridge where the aftermath was from what can be seen on the pictures.

 

[FoXtroT]

The only time that cyclists are allowed on the M4 is when the roads are officially closed and used for an event.


The driver should be charged for culpable homicide.


Ethekwini had spent millions developing the promenade from Ushaka , down to Blue Lagoon and it stretches across to Moses Mabida on NMR.


Cyclists should cycle in demarcated areas, same like the stupid pedestrians that walk/cross the M4 in peak hour traffic.

So all cyclists should use a cycle track/circuit that is only a couple kms long and completely flat? (This is not to say cyclists don't use it, it has been very well used as a speed circuit but therein lies the problem) You can't use the promenade if you are doing proper cycle training so that's out.

OK people say, stick to the B roads. Well most of those don't have a decent shoulder plus you have to keep stopping at lights or stop streets which hinders a decent cycling workout.

By in large, the M4 is the only decent road to use if you need to do any sort of distance training, its long, in most places has a decent emergency lane to utilise, and has varied elevations.

 

[Deadmanza]

So all cyclists should use a cycle track/circuit that is only a couple kms long and completely flat? (This is not to say cyclists don't use it, it has been very well used as a speed circuit but therein lies the problem) You can't use the promenade if you are doing proper cycle training so that's out.

OK people say, stick to the B roads. Well most of those don't have a decent shoulder plus you have to keep stopping at lights or stop streets which hinders a decent cycling workout.

By in large, the M4 is the only decent road to use if you need to do any sort of distance training, its long, in most places has a decent emergency lane to utilise, and has varied elevations.

Well then don't cry when you are mowed down.

 

[FoXtroT]

Looked like a pretty straight road heading S -> N before the bridge where the aftermath was from what can be seen on the pictures.

Look at it on street view. There is a very slight bend in the road about 200m before the bridge, then you have the bridge, off ramp and some trees that all serve to obstruct view to where they were hit.

You can imagine it being 4am and a drunk driver probably doing 180 having very little time to react, or see them.

 

[ToxicBunny]

So all cyclists should use a cycle track/circuit that is only a couple kms long and completely flat? (This is not to say cyclists don't use it, it has been very well used as a speed circuit but therein lies the problem) You can't use the promenade if you are doing proper cycle training so that's out.

OK people say, stick to the B roads. Well most of those don't have a decent shoulder plus you have to keep stopping at lights or stop streets which hinders a decent cycling workout.

By in large, the M4 is the only decent road to use if you need to do any sort of distance training, its long, in most places has a decent emergency lane to utilise, and has varied elevations.

Unfortunately though, the law prohibits the use of cycles on a freeway.

 

[FoXtroT]

Well then don't cry when you are mowed down.

Thats why I, nor anyone from my family, cycle on the road anymore. Its simply too dangerous.

 

[FoXtroT]

Unfortunately though, the law prohibits the use of cycles on a freeway.

Just as it doesn't allow trucks over 6 tons on those roads but that has never stopped them and a transgression I would view as far more dangerous than a cyclist using the road.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Just as it doesn't allow trucks over 6 tons on those roads but that has never stopped them and a transgression I would view as far more dangerous than a cyclist using the road.

I don't disagree...

BUT when a cyclists starts crying about being mowed down on the freeway one does need to ask "WTF were you doing there in the first place"....

 

[Cray]

Thats why I, nor anyone from my family, cycle on the road anymore. Its simply too dangerous.

This, If was going to do anything cycle related it would be mountain biking far off public roads.

 

[DA-LION-619]

i go to dbn about 2 to 3 times a year and hate driving there. they seem to condone a lifestyle of speeding and tail gating (did i say that right ?)

always some m0r0n sitting on my tail, and my god the amount of people that speed at more than what i can only assume is 180 or more there is astonishing and it seems the norm like there's nothing unusual about seeing people drive at breakneck speeds on those highways

dont get me started on 4 way stops in DBN - i swear 80% of their drivers arent licensed

i'm from pmb originally and the amount of kids that die every year because of racing is unbelievable - the culture needs to change in these places TBH - parents are okay with their kids taking daddy's car for a friday/saturday night race with the boys

True, I hate 4 way stops very dodgy drivers out there.
Cyclists shouldn't be on the freeway, no amount of reflectors are going to help them.

 

[Dolby]

I wonder where the other car is that he was racing or overtaking though ?

If the other car was also drunk, I understand him not wanting to stick around - but the 3rd car?

 

[ToxicBunny]

True, I hate 4 way stops very dodgy drivers out there.
Cyclists shouldn't be on the freeway, no amount of reflectors are going to help them.

But 4 way stops are a lot of fun...

Its like gambling, but you don't have to spend any money at all...