Why no traffic officer when it drizzles? Morning chaos at Stepping Stone junction

The absence of traffic officers during light drizzling conditions has become a recurring problem at the Stepping Stone junction, with motorists again experiencing severe congestion on Friday morning at the intersection of Livingstone Road and Peacock Street.

According to regular commuters, this is not an isolated incident. Drivers say that whenever there is light rain or drizzle during peak morning hours, traffic officers are often not present at the busy junction, despite wet conditions consistently causing traffic flow to deteriorate.

On Friday morning, a mild drizzle was enough to trigger major delays. Traffic backed up by approximately 300 metres into Peacock Street, while motorists travelling from town and attempting to cross the KSM bridge were caught in long queues and near standstill conditions.

Motorists reported that without an officer directing traffic, vehicles from multiple directions struggled to move through the intersection in an orderly manner. Some drivers said clearing the junction took up to 10 minutes, even when traffic was moving slowly.

Parents taking children to school were once again among those most affected. Many described the situation as stressful and unnecessary, noting that similar scenes play out repeatedly on wet mornings.

Concerns were raised about the safety of schoolchildren and pedestrians navigating the congested intersection during drizzly conditions.

Residents pointed out that the Stepping Stone junction is a known bottleneck even on dry days, but the lack of traffic control during wet weather consistently worsens the situation.

Several motorists said that on mornings when traffic officers are present — regardless of weather — congestion is significantly reduced.

The repeated absence of traffic officers during drizzling conditions has led to growing frustration among commuters, who are questioning whether traffic management at key intersections becomes inconsistent when weather conditions change, despite the increased risks associated with wet roads.

Although no accidents were reported on Friday morning, motorists warned that the ongoing lack of traffic control during light rain increases the likelihood of collisions, pedestrian incidents, and heightened tension among drivers.

Community members are calling on traffic authorities and the local municipality to address this recurring issue, clarify why traffic officers are not consistently deployed during drizzly weather, and ensure reliable traffic management at high-risk intersections during peak hours.