N3 Toll Route The N3 and N1 highways will experience particularly heavy traffic over the long weekend.
Image: Karen Sandison / Independent Media
Traffic on South Africa’s major routes is expected to increase significantly from Thursday as motorists drive to their Easter weekend destinations in their droves.
Historically, this long weekend is one of the most dangerous times to be on the roads, as a high volume of cars, buses and trucks take to the roads over a relatively short period of time.
Motorists are advised to exercise patience in high-risk traffic zones, especially at peak congestion times.
The busiest routes are typically the N3 highway between Johannesburg and Durban, and the N1 between Johannesburg and Polokwane, with significant volumes also expected on the N4 towards Mpumalanga.
Van Reenen’s Pass: This treacherous stretch of road on the border between the Free State and KZN is an accident hotspot also known for its inclement weather.
According to Philip Hull of the Road Safety Foundation, traffic is expected to peak at upwards of 1,500 vehicles per hour on Thursday between 3pm and 10pm, with similar volumes also expected on Friday morning from 5am to 10am.
Monday should see even higher volumes, possibly approaching 2000 vehicles per hour, based on historical data. The route is expected to be at its busiest from 10am to 9pm on Monday.
Mooi River Plaza: Insights released by Netstar, based on historical data, show that the heaviest traffic levels can be expected on Friday and Monday, with volumes exceeding 1,300 vehicles per hour between 11am and 4pm.
Marianhill Plaza: This toll plaza is expected to see particularly heavy traffic on Thursday afternoon, Netstar predicts, with long queues forming as the hourly traffic rate exceeds 1,800 vehicles per hour.
North Coast: Traffic travelling south into Durban is expected to peak from 9am on Friday, with volumes of around 1,500 vehicles per hour, and you can expect a reciprocal flow on Monday as holidaymakers return home.
Pumlani Toll Plaza: A surge in traffic is expected from Thursday, with volumes averaging 2,000 vehicles per hour from 3pm and peaking between 5pm and 6pm.
An even heavier volume of 3,000 vehicles per hour is expected on Monday from around 5pm.
In addition to the usual holiday traffic, this route also serves thousands of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members, who embark on their annual pilgrimage to the Holy City of Moira in Limpopo. Putco has announced that it will operate around 500 buses for this purpose, from the morning of Friday, April 18.
High traffic volumes are expected along the N1 into Limpopo, and particularly around Polokwane.
Middleburg Toll Plaza: Traffic heading eastward is expected to peak between 2pm and 10pm on Thursday as well as 6am to 11am on Friday, with volumes averaging around 450 vehicles per hour. Monday should see around 700 vehicles per hour from 10am to 11pm.
The leading causes of road carnage, according to Netstar’s Global Fleet Bureau, are negligent driving tactics such as speeding, risky overtaking and illegal U-turns, as well as tyre bursts and driver fatigue.
The deadliest time to be on the road, according to authorities, is between 6pm and 8pm, accounting for 21.2% of all fatal crashes.
Motorists should also exercise caution around trucks, as most fleets will continue to operate during the Easter break.
“Heavy trucks are a vital part of South Africa’s logistics backbone. But due to their size and limitations, they demand more awareness and courtesy from other road users,” says Netstar’s fleet general manager Mark Forbes.
“Did you know that a fully loaded heavy truck can take twice the length of a rugby field to come to a complete stop after slamming on brakes?”
Forbes also advises motorists to drive with their headlights on, even during the day, and maintain a safe following distance at all times, while reducing speeds in high-risk areas.
Philip Hull advises drivers, particularly those driving down the N3, to pack warm clothing as well as an emergency supply of food and drinking water. This is because more often than not there are heavy delays on this route, caused by accidents, and with rain forecast over the weekend, that risk is higher than usual.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) this week issued a warning of continued wet weather across several regions of South Africa.
On Thursday, isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over the northeastern parts of the country, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Light rain is anticipated along the KZN and Eastern Cape coastal regions.
Friday is expected to bring a 30% chance of rainfall over the central and northeastern parts of South Africa, including parts of Gauteng, North West and Free State.
IOL
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