Keep safe on the roads this festive season
An increase in traffic on Mpumalanga's roads has also seen an increase in accidents.
With the substantial traffic volume increase this festive season, the N4 has seen several accidents over the past couple of days.
The first wave of holiday traffic was seen between December 15 and 16. The next wave is expected between December 22 and December 24.
Authorities are urging motorists and truck drivers alike to drive cautiously and obey the rules of the road in the hopes of reducing potential crashes and road fatalities.
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TRAC’s Solange Soares reported that from December 14 until Tuesday morning, 20 accidents were reported along the N4, in which six people were seriously injured and two died.
On Tuesday morning, another report of an accident between an SUV and a minibus taxi on the N4 between Ngodwana and Montrose was received. Six people suffered minor to moderate injuries.
Meanwhile, the situation at the Lebombo Border Post remained stable as of Tuesday midday.
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“To date, movement towards the border is similar to every other day,” said Soares.
“The truck traffic remains high, with queues up to 34km from the border recorded. However, the majority of the hauliers are respectful and understanding to the need for regular traffic to keep flowing, hence they patiently queue on the yellow line while awaiting to reach and clear the border,” she said.
Soares added that in line with the festive season traffic, there has been a significant increase of private vehicles (class 1) in this region, however, no major backlogs have been reported.
“The traffic management operations implemented by law enforcement and border authorities during this time of year go a long way in preventing major delays in this section,” said Soares.
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Lowvelder had previously reported that border traffic management operations were implemented from December 13 and will be in effect until January 17. These operations include a traffic control point at Coopersdal for all vehicles and local traffic en route to Komatipoort, and visitors to the Kruger National Park will be redirected onto the Tenbosch road.
Trucks, buses, taxis and light vehicles en route to the border will be stacked on the N4 just before Kilometre 7. This checkpoint will regulate traffic movement to the border, passport control and customs. Commercial vehicles, buses and taxis will be pre-cleared at the dry port, where after they will be escorted to the Lebombo Border Post.
Private vehicles will be permitted to proceed towards the border from Kilometre 7, and no queuing is allowed between it and the border. Trucks will be diverted to Mananga Road, while all other traffic will be diverted through Komatipoort at the Sasol Garage intersection.
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The Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s Moeti Mmusi added that law enforcement and all members of the security cluster remain on high alert. He also encouraged daytime driving wherever possible, as statistics show that most crashes occur at night.
TRAC’s safety tips for the festive season:
Plan your trip. The road will be very busy on certain days, and planning effectively in line with predicted traffic flow is recommended to avoid frustration.
• Obey all road regulations. They are there to keep everyone, including yourself, safe.
• Rest regularly – every 200km/two hours. There are amazing rest stops all along the route – road users are encouraged to use them. A fatigued driver is a dangerous driver.
• If travelling on the TRAC N4 Route, keep the TRAC Helpdesk and TRACAssist toll-free number on hand. We are available 24/7 to attend to any emergency, incident or accident on the 570km in both SA and Moz.
• Follow @TRACN4Route on X (formerly Twitter) for real-time updates. Road users can also log onto www.tracn4.co.za.
