Motorists vs Cyclists.... again

[Robbie Stewart]

4 hours ago, Scott roy said:

On a side note, most people haven’t a clue how a circle works.

In South Africa, you give way to traffic on the right, that is already entered or at the circle before you. 

That does NOT mean you give way to the entirety of traffic approaching from your right, only to the traffic already in the circle or busy entering the circle as you approach. 

At that point when it's your turn, then you enter and continue to give way to traffic to your left already in the circle before you. 

Unfortunately the asleep-behind-the-wheel Capetonians think that you need to sit stationary at the circle for ad infinitum while the rest of Cape Town enters the circle to their right. 

The logic is really simple. A traffic circle is nothing more than a moving four-way stop with pretty much similar logic other than yield to your right, then to your left. 

What is is NOT is a stop till the whole world passes by. 

[emme]

Unless it is a mini circle...

[Shebeen]

On 2/28/2024 at 10:27 AM, Shebeen said:

 

edit: paywall used to cost me R9/month. just checked up and they moved it to R75 in jan. sneaky buggers!!

 

Cape Town cyclist Dewald van der Westhuizen says his life has changed forever after he was knocked down by a speeding motorist while cycling with his coach, Mike Moriarty, in Simon's Town in December.

Van der Westhuizen's right leg was "degloved" because of the crash's impact. 

A degloving injury results in the top layers of skin and tissue being torn away from the underlying muscle, connective tissue, or bone. 

Van der Westhuizen has already had five surgeries to repair the damage caused to his right leg and knee.

He has been in hospital for about a month, unable to move while recovering from the multiple surgeries. 

Speaking to News24, Van der Westhuizen, 26, said he was "grateful and happy" to have finally been discharged from hospital, even though he was still unable to walk using both legs. 

"I'm learning to be mobile again. I'm still on crutches and moving around the house as slowly and as often as possible to get some movement in my right leg.

"It's been quite the experience having to adjust to the new normal after going through what I went through. But I'm taking each day as it comes," he added. 

READ | SA Navy suspends man accused of knocking down cyclists in Simon's Town

Recalling the events of 21 December, Van der Westhuizen said he had been cycling at around 05:00 with his coach in Glencairn when a speeding motorist crashed into them. 

"I don't remember much about the impact, but I do recall that when I was knocked to the pavement, my right leg was crossed over onto the other leg with quite a lot of blood coming from it. An ambulance arrived, and I was loaded inside.

"I remember they gave me so many painkillers to numb the pain till I got to Vincent Pallotti Hospital that morning, where I underwent my first surgery at around 17:00 that day," he added. 

Van der Westhuizen said doctors had told him he needed surgery, and he would make a full recovery. 

"There was a lot of pain, but the medication I was given really helped.

"I remember the doctor telling me that had I gone to another hospital, my leg [might have been] amputated. I'm extremely happy that wasn't the case." 

He said when he was able to come to terms with his ordeal, he saw the CCTV video footage that has since been posted all over social media. 

"There were mixed emotions seeing what everyone had been seeing.

"If I look at the speed at which the car was coming, there was no way he wasn't going to knock into us," said Van der Westhuizen, who had started cycling as a hobby in November and was preparing to take part in a fitness event in April.

He continued: 

Every day has its challenges. I've had to be confined to my bed every day when I was in hospital.

"The painkillers made it a bit easy when I had to roll over in bed to have myself washed because I couldn't put pressure on my leg. That was quite challenging."

He chuckled when he told News24 he "finally had a proper shower" last Wednesday. 

"This has really been quite an experience. It's not something I saw coming, but I suppose this is my life right now, and I'm learning to deal with it day by day," said Van der Westhuizen. 

He said he was grateful to have medical aid to cover his medical bills, having racked up more than R700 000 for the month he was in hospital.

Van der Westhuizen said medical aid was a "small price" to pay, considering he still has both his legs.  

READ | SA Navy suspends man accused of knocking down cyclists in Simon's Town

Garth Pasha, an able seaman in the SA Navy, was arrested shortly after the incident on charges of reckless and negligent driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and attempted murder.

He appeared in the Simon's Town Magistrate's Court and was released on R5 000 bail.

His licence has been suspended, and the court instructed him not to drive a motor vehicle for the duration of the case.

SA Navy chief Monde Lobese suspended Pasha, citing the "charges the member faced are deemed to be of a serious nature". 

Navy spokesperson, Commander Theo Mabina, said Pasha was suspended with pay, pending the conclusion of the legal proceedings. 

"The next course of action will be determined only when all legal proceedings are completed," he added. 

Van der Westhuizen's father, Robert Gouverneur, has been attending every court appearance and told News24 the case was postponed to 5 April. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was approached for comment, which will be added once received.

Meanwhile, Van der Westhuizen said he had not received an apology from Pasha: 

I think a simple apology would have been welcomed. My life has changed completely; it's going to take a very long time for me to get back to where I was before I got injured.

He added that he would like to sit in on the next court appearance and see the man who caused damage to his life. 

In the meantime, he is working on regaining his independence.

"I hope to make a full recovery so that I can get back to doing things I loved doing, like surfing and walking on the beach." 

When asked if he thought he would ever get back on a bicycle, Van der Westhuizen said, "definitely not on a main road".

Sentencing last week. slap on the wrist.

I have 2 questions:

*why was there no blood/alcohol test taken - did the navy step in?

*why does the media not follow these sort of things?

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/cyclistsstayalive/posts/pfbid02FoNuuBaBBbagTAaVdJC5W1PvACzqLvLeHag2uwo2kkT9bRqM1c7Tdf2atKRABfs8l

 

Last week Garth Pasha was handed down his sentence after he rammed into Dewald van der Westhuizen in Dec 2023. Pasha pleaded guilty to reckless driving and failing to stop at the scene of the crash. Dewald testified in court and told the magistrate about his long and painful recovery period.

On the first charge Pasha received a R20 000 fine or 12 months imprisonment. R10 000 of that has been suspended unless he commits the same crime in the next five years. On the second charge,he has to pay a fine of R3000 or three months imprisonment,so effectively he is paying a R13 000 fine. His driver's and firearm licenses have been reinstated as well. Pasha furthermore made an arrangement to pay R5000 on the day and will pay the rest in R1000 instalments for eight months.

The PPA is extremely concerned and exasperated at the contemptible sentence handed down to Pasha in the case against Dewald van der Westhuizen in the Simon's Town Magistrates court. In many cases in South Africa, the punishment does not fit the crime. This is a perfect example. No matter the mitigation or aggravation in this case, we feel the sentence is sorely lacking in severity. We believe it sends out the wrong message to would be criminals and lets them know that they can break the law in egregious fashion and little to nothing will happen to them.

We have a 1 metre pass law in the Western Cape. On this alone (and we believe there was strong evidence overall to suggest culpability), we believe the sentence was derisory.

Law abiding cyclists who are following the laws of the roads, should not be as vulnerable as they currently are on our roads. They are literally taking their life in their hands when they leave for work or school, or are out on training / fun ride. This should not be how we have to live our lives.

We strongly urge the SAPS, the traffic authorities and all prosecuting bodies to take a more serious look at what is happening on our roads as far as vulnerable road users are concerned. The current state of affairs is intolerable.

 

 

 

All reactions:

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[Shebeen]

https://falsebayecho.co.za/news/2025-03-26-lenient-sentence-for-hit-and-run-driver-sends-troubling-message-to-criminals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJSFiRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaIFeID7OQUX-zGUPyX5iTvDXI1SErZjNtZjV2RZHs84csPErEGu60dk2Q_aem_a_qDZLb0JdqEL6PTSb9aBw

[Andreas_187]

Disgusting