Sister of Kloof Nek victim on City's speeding solution: 'People aren't going to look at signs'
Michele Macfarlane is the sister of Ian Macfarlane, who was in one of the 17 vehicles hit by an out-of-control cement truck on Kloof Nek Road in October 2024.
City aims to curb errant driving on Kloof Nek Road / Image: City Of Cape Town
CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Michele Macfarlane, the sister of the Kloof Nek Road crash victim, Ian Macfarlane.
Listen below:
Ian Macfarlane was in a coma until November 2024, after being in a vehicle hit by an out-of-control cement truck on Kloof Nek Road in October 2024.
RELATED:
* Plea from sister of Kloof Nek truck crash victim who remains in coma
* Kloof Nek Road crash victim Ian Macfarlane wakes up from coma & in recovery
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate is implementing measures to help mitigate the dangers of runaway vehicles on Kloof Nek Road.
As a possible solution, the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate is working on implementing measures to mitigate the impact of errant vehicles travelling down Kloof Nek Road.
The City is completing a feasibility study on the implementation of arrestor structures at strategically located places along the road.
In the meantime, 18 Stay-in-Low-Gear warning signs have been erected to caution truck drivers in particular, while the speed limit along Kloof Nek Road is 50km/h in both directions.
A recent investigation found the average speed for heavy vehicles was 51km/h northbound (downhill), and 47km/h southbound; for light vehicles, it was 57km/h northbound and 56km/h southbound.
It was found that the majority of road users do not exceed the speed limit.
Macfarlane gave an update on the health of her brother since the accident and the impact it's had on the family.
"It's been eight months since the accident. He was actually in a coma for a couple of months and then in rehab for another month... It's been an insanely difficult time. Although his recovery has been miraculous in terms of being given a 20% chance of making it through the night at the time because of the diffused brain bleeding, injuries and everything... head trauma is so complex and one of the slowest parts of our body to heal..."
- Michele Macfarlane, Ian Macfarlane's sister
"Myself and my family have put our lives on hold... and not just him, so many other people in that accident too."
- Michele Macfarlane, Ian Macfarlane's sister
Macfarlane explains her reaction to the City's solution to mitigate incidents on Kloof Nek Road.
"It was incredibly triggering. I had no idea until I was called by your show, and as soon as I saw the sort of self-congratulatory article written... and I saw it was posted again on all media platforms, it just screamed 'media campaign'."
- Michele Macfarlane, Ian Macfarlane's sister
"It's an indication that the City is doing something, but in my opinion, what I realised is, what you actually need to deal with, is the rot that's going on. When I talk about the rot, I'm talking about bought licenses that truckers have, trucks and cars that aren't properly maintained, truck companies that aren't properly regulated like Omega the cement truck who put so much pressure on their drivers to have these unrealistic goals so they're always rushing, lack of proper police investigations... There needs to be a much bigger police force, and if you start impounding those vehicles and swarm that area with police who impound vehicles and do random checks on all of them, companies will very quickly come to heel."
- Michele Macfarlane, Ian Macfarlane's sister
"People aren't going to look at signs, and they're not going to take notice if they can get away with it. How many rules are there in the country that nobody listens to?"
- Michele Macfarlane, Ian Macfarlane's sister
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.
PICS: Another heavy vehicle crash on Kloof Nek Road - bus smashes into cars, apt. wall