The festive season is well underway and holiday makers are expected to start travelling to their various destinations. The Department of Community Safety says they are expecting increased traffic volumes on roads over the next few days ahead of the Christmas holidays.
BE CAREFUL
Gauteng traffic said this joyful period will see a surge in traffic on major routes. "Road fatalities and serious injuries have a devastating impact on South African society, often resulting in the loss of breadwinners and important contributors to the economy. To address this, the department is implementing a robust festive season road safety and traffic law enforcement plan. This plan aims to reduce offences leading to crashes and promote safe road user behaviour through voluntary compliance with traffic regulations," said the department.
NO NONSENSE APPROACH
Since the beginning of the month law enforcement officers stopped and checked 89 420 vehicles, arrested 54 drivers for drunken driving and weighed 21688 vehicles. We've also charged 2,490 drivers for over speeding, with one driver arrested for travelling at an alarming 188km/h. Furthermore, 738 drivers were charged for overloading passengers and goods. These statistics demonstrate our zero-tolerance approach to traffic infringements and serve as a warning to those planning to travel in the coming days," said the department. The department has advised motorists to plan their trips, allowing for regular breaks to avoid fatigue. "All vehicle occupants must wear seatbelts. Drivers are urged to be patient and avoid reckless and negligent behaviour, such as speeding, overtaking unsafely, drinking and driving, overloading passengers and goods and using a handheld mobile device while driving. Ultimately, the safety of all passengers in a vehicle relies heavily on the behaviour of the driver, making it crucial for drivers to prioritise and adhere to traffic regulations."
Expected Traffic Hotspots:
Heavy traffic flows are expected on the following major routes:
N1: Pretoria to Polokwane
N4: Pretoria to Mpumalanga
N4: Pretoria to Rustenburg
R573: Pretoria to Mpumalanga
N12: Johannesburg to Mpumalanga
N3: Johannesburg to Durban
N1: Johannesburg to Bloemfontein
N12: Johannesburg to Potchefstroom
