7 Tips for driving when the lights go out
Load-shedding induced power outages can cause havoc on the roads
As the battle to keep SA’s lights on continues in the boardrooms and power stations of Eskom, motorists have to fight their way through busy intersections.
MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert says the key to managing the added stress is to remain calm.
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“As frustrating as it may be, accept that load-shedding is a reality. Get into your car prepared for the challenges this creates, and manage them calmly and safely.
“It becomes dangerous when you let frustration rule your decisions behind the wheel,” said Herbert.
Here are MasterDrive’s tips to survive the darkest hours on the road:
• Be prepared by knowing when outages will affect your commute to and from work.
Keep an eye on load-shedding schedules and attempt to avoid areas experiencing outages during your travel times, with the help of apps like Google Maps.
• Give yourself additional travel time to avoid feeling pressurised while driving.
• Do not drive inside the yellow line while waiting at a congested traffic light.
This worsens the traffic for other motorists, makes it more dangerous to re-enter traffic later, and may incite anger from fellow drivers. Not to mention it blocks the emergency lane for law enforcement vehicles and ambulances.
• While intersections should be treated as four-way stops, often this does not happen, making it necessary that you double check every path that crosses yours before proceeding.
Rather take longer to cross than not make it across at all.
• If you find it difficult to remain calm in congestion, find ways that can assist in keeping you relaxed, such as selecting relaxing music before leaving.
• Listen to points people directing traffic and give them the respect they deserve for the help they provide.
• If another driver is displaying reckless, selfish or any other questionable behaviour, ignore them and move out of their way, rather than get upset or try to intervene.
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