Flying stones cost N6 drivers dearly

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05-03-2013
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Daily Dispatch
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MOTORISTS travelling between Kei Road and Stutterheim on the N6 are up in arms about stone damage after the road’s resurfacing.

South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) spokeswoman Priya Pillay said the project ran from October 2011 to February 2013.

One motorist, Kobus van Niekerk, now plans to take legal action against the construction company because of the damage to a number of his firm’s cars caused by flying stones.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday a group of motorists including taxi drivers complained the construction company, Roadmac Surfacing Cape (RMS), made little or no attempt to remove loose stones from the surface when they opened the road for traffic in February.

Stephanie Welthagen, who lives in Kei Road and works in Stutterheim, said she had to replace her vehicle’s windscreen after a stone hit it and left a huge crack. Welthagen said the brand new windscreen had already been damaged and there were dents in the car’s body, too. “This is unacceptable and something should be done about it. It isn’t fair for us to keep replacing windscreens and fixing bodywork. The contractor should be held responsible,” she said.

Van Niekerk, whose company has a fleet of 32 vehicles that travels on the road daily, was also annoyed.

“I’m consciously aware of the damage that loose stones might cause so I make sure to keep a good distance from the vehicle in front of me, but I can’t stop the hail of stones from oncoming traffic,” said Van Niekerk.

Anca poultry farms distribution director Kevin Rowan said some of their delivery vehicles needed constant repairs.

The spokesman for the Stutterheim taxi association, Patrick Hewu, said the taxi industry was also considering legal action. “We’re glad that the road was fixed but we feel like the construction company was negligent in cleaning up,” said Hewu.

In a letter responding to Van Niekerk’s complaint, RMS said: “If all motorists maintained a safe following distance, did not exceed the 60km/h speed restriction and did not overtake other vehicles no damage to third party vehicles would occur.

“Therefore without prejudice to our rights we are not liable for the damage to your vehicle, or any other vehicle for that matter.”

Pillay said the road section was the responsibility of the contractor for the duration of the contract.

“RMS told Sanral the claim should be made official, that all procedures were in place and their construction work was not negligent,” she added.