The ‘Don’t Be a Creep’ campaign has just been rolled out by the City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate.
The initiative aims to tackle the growing problem of drivers creeping over stop lines and blocking intersections.
What is ‘creeping’?
Motorists are often tempted to creep over the line when there is not enough time to move through the intersection or fully clear the intersection before the traffic signal turns red.
This often happens during peak periods, when roads are already busy and many drivers are impatient to get to their destinations.
According to the City, this behaviour disrupts traffic flow, increases congestion and poses serious safety risks for motorists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
“Creeping makes congestion worse and tempers flare,” said the City’s Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
“We often see that motorists creep over the line into the area that should always be clear for turning vehicles, pedestrians, and other motorists to pass through the signalised intersection when it’s their turn to go.”
“When this happens, they effectively block the intersection for all traffic and then everybody is trapped in a gridlock situation.”
Quintas said he frequently observes this phenomenon in the CBD at key intersections on exit routes, and along other arterial routes such as the M3.
‘Creeping’ is unlawful and dangerous
At its worst, creeping can mean the difference between life and death, as blocked intersections slow down emergency response.
These delays prevent ambulances and first responders from reaching crisis scenes quickly.
Campaign objectives
The ‘Don’t be a creep’ campaign focuses on educating drivers about the dangers of creeping and its impact on traffic flow. This is mainly be reminding motorists to:
- Wait behind the stop line until the light turns green and the intersection is clear
- Keep intersections and pedestrian crossings unobstructed for all road users
To reinforce the message, signage has been installed at intersections where creeping is common.
Public assistance and fault reporting
The City has also encouraged residents to report faulty traffic signals (which can contribute to congestion and poor driving behaviour).
Faults can be reported via the City of Cape Town’s mobile app, call centre (0860 103 089), or email (contact.us@capetown.gov.za).
