Motorists urged to be vigilant on busy roads this festive season
Motorists have been urged to be on high alert as traffic volumes are expected to soar over the next few days.
The Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Gabisile Shabalala, released a press statement recently calling on all road-users to remain extremely cautious and vigilant while driving on the busy roads during the festive period.
“We want everybody to arrive safely wherever they are going,” said Shabalala.
“We do not want to see any further loss of life on the road. Let us exercise patience and tolerate one another where there are delays,” she said.
The MEC said roads such as: N2, N17, N4, N3, N11, R573, R38, R555 and R568 are among the busiest so far.
“These roads link Mpumalanga with KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo as well as Eswatini and Mozambique.”
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She also urged motorists who would be travelling long distances “to rest sufficiently along the way because fatigue is another contributor to poor decision making on the part of motorists.
“While drivers must ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, they need to ensure they also physically fit to drive long distances.
“We are also appealing to motorists to try and avoid nighttime driving and rather move during the day as most fatal crashes experienced so far occurred at night,” she said.
Shabalala added that more than 70 people had died on roads in Mpumalanga since the start of the festive season.
She said while law enforcement are on high alert and visibility has been greatly enhanced on the roads, it was still critical for all road users to play their part by using the road safely and obeying the rules.
She also called on the communities to continue complying with the Covid-19 health protocols and regulations, reminding people to continue wearing masks at all times in public places, keeping social distance and also avoiding large gatherings.
Meanwhile the provincial traffic officers have stopped and checked over 99 000 vehicles since the beginning of the holiday season.
Over 16 000 notices were issued to motorists for various offences. So far 21 people have been arrested for drinking and driving and about seven motorists were brought to book for excessive speeding.
Shabalala also encouraged law enforcement officers to continue saving lives by showing no mercy to negligent and reckless driving during the festive season and beyond.
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