Johannesburg residents waste an average of 37 minutes a day on the city’s roads due to non-functional traffic lights, according to a study by an expert.

“If the average time lost is 37 minutes per day, this will cost more than R28 000 per year,” according to a study by Dr Aurobindo Ograurban, professor of regional planning at the University of Johannesburg.

“Fuel consumption is assumed to be 3.5 times higher due to traffic consumption.”

Traffic lights cost you time and money

However, the Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) said of its 2,023 traffic lights and warning lights, 75 per cent were functional.

This was contrary to Organization against tax abuse (Outa) CEO Wayne Duvenage said the city’s traffic light situation was a real concern.

“Our recent X survey indicates that motorists are experiencing a deterioration in traffic light operation.”

Phalanndwa Makhwathana, JRA’s acting head of mobility and freight, said problems with traffic lights were due to “power supply issues which contribute to more than 25% of outages experienced”.

“Apart from any other potentially attributable challenges, Eskom and City Power are also facing theft and vandalism of the same network that powers the transmission infrastructure,” Makhwathana said.

“The cost of restoring non-functional infrastructure is estimated at more than R70 million. Around 600 confirmed technical defects are repaired each year. This number excludes vandalized and electricity-related faults for which JRA relies on power utilities such as Eskom and City Power.

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Residents share their frustration

One resident, Lungile Mthethwa, said: “I travel from Soweto to Alberton and it’s always a nightmare. As soon as you arrive on Voortrekker Road, the traffic lights are turned off. Those on Ring Road and St Austell Street are also not working.

“There are about two traffic lights that are still out of order on this road. On Voortrekker there have been about three lights out for three months now. I’m always late and we’re constantly fighting with taxi drivers who want to cut in front of you. Don’t even mention the cost of petrol,” Mthethwa said.

Another resident, Lizo Zulu, who commutes to Midrand daily from the R554 towards Heidelberg Road, said the route had no working traffic lights at about four intersections.

“I used to spend R600 a week on petrol, but now it’s R750 a week, or R3 000 a month on petrol.”

Motorists in Randburg said traffic was backed up around 7am on Bram Fischer Drive as traffic lights were constantly interrupted.

The lights are “always off”

A Wits University student said the lights were still out in Dunkeld, near the corner of Hyde Park, which is a busy intersection.

Since 2022, the Fourways area has deteriorated, said Fourways councilor David Foley.

“This is extremely serious as there is no free-flowing traffic, drivers are frustrated, taxis are plying on pedestrian/cycle lanes, putting lives at risk and scaring other drivers.

“A 10-minute journey takes 50 minutes. Schoolchildren arrive late for school and parents have to leave early in the morning.

Foley said it could take up to eight months to repair the lights.

“We are told that this recent increase in problems is due to tenders which were awarded more than six months ago, but not yet awarded, for the outsourcing of traffic light maintenance or the supply of spare parts,” Duvenage said.

“Vandalized traffic lights take longer to repair”

JRA said vandalized traffic lights took longer to replace than technical errors. These intersections may be without traffic lights for extended periods of time.

Makhwathana said “infrastructure security is a major challenge as various sites were vandalized within days of restoration.”

In addition to relying on law enforcement, JRA has developed specifications for a robust and intelligent controller system, he said.

“In addition, a (request for information) has been issued for information on other robust infrastructure-related aspects,” Makhwathana said.

JRA has received assistance from OUTsurance pointers to help alleviate traffic congestion since 2005. OUTsurance customer relations manager Natasha Kawulesar said the company currently has 70 pointers for the city of Joburg.

Duvenage said: “The current traffic light situation is putting the timekeeping team under pressure.

“I guess they only have limited resources and can’t do more than they committed to. The Metropolitan Police should up their game and go to busy intersections too.

According to JRA, the sensitive area is region F (Joburg CBD, Booysens and surrounding areas) with the most vandalized sites.

However, Regions B (Randburg, Blairgowrie, Ferndale, Parktown, etc.), C (Roodepoort and surrounding areas), D (Greater Soweto areas, Naturena and parts of Joburg South) and E (Sandton, Alexandra, Woodmead, Norwood, etc.) “they suffer almost equally from the scourge, while they collectively live more than region F”.

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