Thousands of motorists were expected to make their way to holiday destinations on Friday for the long weekend.
The Gauteng Department of Community Safety yesterday urged motorists to drive safely and warned them about the use of drugs and alcohol on the road.
Community Safety traffic division spokesman Obed Sibasa said they were expecting very heavy traffic volumes on major routes, freeways, provincial and local routes today.
“Road users can expect high traffic police visibility, intensified pedestrian blitzes, roadblocks and roadside checkpoints on all Gauteng’s major routes as motorists make their way to various destinations,” he said.
“We saw more than 1000 vehicles per hour at toll plazas between Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo (N1 and N3) (on Thursday) and we are expecting busy arterials and freeways (Friday).”
Busy routes:
The N1 between Gauteng and Limpopo.
The N1 between Gauteng, Free State and Western Cape.
The N3 between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
The N12 between Gauteng, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
The N4 Bakwena highway between North West and Gauteng.
The N4 between Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
Avoidance techniques
“Motorists tend to avoid using routes where there is heavy law enforcement (roadblocks) and visible presence of law enforcement officers.
“They also avoid toll gates, use secondary, minor roads and also prefer to travel at night,” Sibasa said.
“Gauteng Traffic Police and other law enforcement agencies will work around the clock to ensure the safety of road users. We have also embarked on intensified road safety education at taxi ranks, heavy vehicle-bus/truck companies, schools, tertiary institutions, churches, NGOs, etc.”
Sibasa advised motorists to travel with headlights on during the day to increase their vehicle's visibility, take regular rest breaks every two hours or 200km, buckle up (everyone in the vehicle), look out for pedestrians, ensure vehicle fitness and avoid unsafe or dangerous overtaking.
You can report bad driving, accidents, criminal activity and corruption to 0860 400 800.
The Star