Another car plunges down cliff where Herolds Bay family lost their lives

[Prof]

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...vered-20200129

Hopefully the council does something soon...

What do you want the coucil to do?

[JS-V8]

I am not at al familiar with the road.

Could someone explain what makes this road so dangerous? We have loads of passes and roads with drop offs, but this one seems to attract a lot of accidents lately?

[Jens78]

I am not at al familiar with the road.

Could someone explain what makes this road so dangerous? We have loads of passes and roads with drop offs, but this one seems to attract a lot of accidents lately?

Not accidents, murder-suicides.

[JohanMaree]

Vandag in Rapport. Die seun se verhaal soos vertel aan die mense wat hom langs die pad aangetref het.

Tragies.

[Swys14]

I have a question for people who was been there and know that road/parking/viewing area...

Why the danger? Why so many accidents/tragedies happening there? Is that road really so dangerous? Many people speculate about the causes...accidents, self-death etc. Either or, both are sad and tragic and my heart goes out to the victims' loved ones.

I ask this question because there's many places similar with huge drops like say Chappies etc. and you hardly hear of fatal accidents there or cars going over.

[Jens78]

I have a question for people who was been there and know that road/parking/viewing area...

Why the danger? Why so many accidents/tragedies happening there? Is that road really so dangerous? Many people speculate about the causes...accidents, self-death etc. Either or, both are sad and tragic and my heart goes out to the victims' loved ones.

I ask this question because there's many places similar with huge drops like say Chappies etc. and you hardly hear of fatal accidents there or cars going over.

No need to speculate, just read the news regarding each case. Murder-suicides.

[duncang]

Sad to hear the lad's explanation..

[BruceHun]

Sad to hear the lad's explanation..

For those without access to Rapport, what is the explanation pls?

[Brannas]

For those without access to Rapport, what is the explanation pls?

The boy said - My mom didn't want to live anymore, that is why she drove into the sea.

There have been accidental deaths there, 2 that I know of that were young people drinking and driving and then leaving the road at speed late night/early morning,. But the last 3 vehicles that went over there were all suicide, sadly two of the 3 were mothers taking kids with them..

[mikeml]

The boy said - My mom didn't want to live anymore, that is why she drove into the sea.

There have been accidental deaths there, 2 that I know of that were young people drinking and driving and then leaving the road at speed late night/early morning,. But the last 3 vehicles that went over there were all suicide, sadly two of the 3 were mothers taking kids with them..

I agree with Jens's deleted post. I get it that you can be so down to commit suicide. It must be a terribly dark place, and I can't condemn or judge their actions in their suicide. But to take loved ones on the same journey is not something I can comprehend.

[Oppies3800]

I am not at al familiar with the road.

Could someone explain what makes this road so dangerous? We have loads of passes and roads with drop offs, but this one seems to attract a lot of accidents lately?

The road is not unsafe.

It has a fairly large drop and that is why it gets used/abused

[Skylark]

I understand from the article that the council cannot do anything as the land on which this road is, is privately owned. At least they can make a fire under the owner, although it seems the owner is willing to do something - even out of his pocket.

Why would a private land owner want the public all over his land, which no doubt brings with it littering, making fires, causing havoc and multiple suicides and other deaths?

[Prof]

Why would a private land owner want the public all over his land, which no doubt brings with it littering, making fires, causing havoc and multiple suicides and other deaths?

From local newspaper after previous incident

Road belongs to DTPW
According to Jandré Bakker, head of communications at the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW), the road is under the jurisdiction of the DTPW as it was proclaimed a provincial road in 1958. The owner of the land therefore has no legal right to close it or make any changes to the road.


"This road provides access to areas of tourism and recreational value. The DTPW attended a meeting facilitated by the George Municipality to discuss options for improving safety on this road; alternatively closing it to the public. Those at the meeting were not in favour of closing the road," he said.


Residents vote against closure
The landowner referred the paper to a member of the Herold's Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association, who told the George Herald that, during a meeting with members of provincial government, the municipality and environmental affairs on 27 January, the residents of Herold's Bay voted to keep the road open.


"We would like to keep it open and along with the owner, we are searching for solutions. As the road is a provincial road the owner bears no responsibility for the safety of the public using it. In the meantime three areas have been identified as hotspots and we are in the process of putting up barriers.


"A request to close the road until the work is completed was refused as the road is a public road.


"We are looking at various other factors for a long-term solution," he said.

[Skylark]

From local newspaper after previous incident

Interesting, how could you have a provincial road on private property, that's not something I recall hearing of before?

[ekkekan]

Interesting, how could you have a provincial road on private property, that's not something I recall hearing of before?

If a road is built through private property is that portion not bought from you and you no longer own it. The same happens with power lines.

[Sandjan]

I have a question for people who was been there and know that road/parking/viewing area...

Why the danger? Why so many accidents/tragedies happening there? Is that road really so dangerous? Many people speculate about the causes...accidents, self-death etc. Either or, both are sad and tragic and my heart goes out to the victims' loved ones.

I ask this question because there's many places similar with huge drops like say Chappies etc. and you hardly hear of fatal accidents there or cars going over.

Good question. I know this road quite well.

There are many places with cliffs and so on, particularly around Coffee bay, and there are a fair number of car wrecks between Gordons Bay and Hangklip. With the higher walls and barriers fewer than in the old days. I have seen a student roll his dad's Audi coming back from Hangklip hotel a few decades ago.

The Garden Route from Knysna to Mossel Bay has a very large population, that piece of road is quiet, nobody around, and now infamous.

I would say if one is in a state to contemplate going through with something like this, then you don't have to think too hard about where.

Van Stadens Bridge used to be used to some degree by jumpers despite the fact that there are thousands of buildings, bridges and high places that one can jump from.

Why did Van Stadens bridge get this macabre record?

[Kreefstert]

Its my hometown.

Nothing wrong with the road. Its gravel with a cliff. Beautiful views, popular with fishermand and spearos. Great lookout.

As long as you dont drive like a moegoe there is no reason you wont be completely safe.

As for suicides, the people will just go elsewhere.

its very sad but its bot the roads fault.

[Skylark]

If a road is built through private property is that portion not bought from you and you no longer own it. The same happens with power lines.

The only time they wouldn't buy it outright would be if it was a servitude but that doesn't seem to be the case here?

[Brannas]

Another one today. So sad.

[Oppies3800]

Look, lets be very honest.

This is NOT an accident. Driving off that cliff is and never will be an accident.