USE OF STREETS IN GATED COMMUNITIES

When it comes to communal living, community rules are in place to govern harmonious living. This is particularly the case with rules that deal with the use of streets in communal schemes. Generally these rules would highlight aspects such as who owns the internal roads (are the roads public or private), speed limits, types of vehicles permitted on the streets and use of roads by underage persons.

Public Roads in Estates

Public roads are subject to road traffic legislation. For estates or similar communal housing schemes with public roads, any traffic penalties issued by the governing body would be viewed as an infringement of the rules of the scheme and not as a contravention of the road traffic ordinance. The rationale behind this is to ensure the safe and orderly use of the roads for the benefit of all users.

Safety for Children

The rules also require parents to teach children essential road safety tips while vehicles need to travel at a set minimum speed.

Types of Vehicles

Licensed vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and scooters are permitted on the community roads by licensed drivers. The use of golf carts can be a grey area and often require the owner to have the cart registered with the association or body corporate through the payment of an annual fee. Often rules cover the use of golf carts on public roads within the community, with the proviso that golf carts keep to the golf course since golf carts are not licensed vehicles entitled to be used on public roads.  Quad bikes and vehicles with noisy exhaust systems are often a no-no. 

Rules Safeguard Lifestyle

Property owners are expected to ensure compliance with the rules by visitors, family members, employees and tenants. 

Communal living means being part of a community with shared values that help to safeguard lifestyle and ensure harmonious living for all.