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Road traffic authorities are set to embark on a heighten road safety campaign and highly visible law enforcement on the N3 National highway this weekend targeting motorists travelling to the east coast. Traffic is expected to peak along this route from Friday as travellers will be heading to Durban to attend the popular July Handicap, horse racing event. Heavy traffic is also expected on Sunday until Monday when travellers return from the event.

Road traffic authorities from Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal as well as the Road Traffic Management Corporation will be stationed at key points along this route to educate motorists about safety including respect for other motorists, avoiding road rage, fatigue, reduce speed, avoiding alcohol and intoxicating drugs while driving and avoiding the use of cell-phones when driving.

Disabled activists from the Self Help Association for Paraplegics are also expected to join the campaign at some of the identified spots. The N3 is one of the dangerous routes in South Africa with the high flow of heavy vehicles and motorists are urged to travel during daylight to avoid crashes. There are numerous hazardous spots along this route. These include pedestrians crossing the roads near Vosloorus in Gauteng and Howick in KwaZulu Natal.

The portion of the road between Villiers and Harrismith experiences high crashes. The Van Reenen Pass outside Harrismith and Hilton in Pietermaritzburg experience dense mist around this time of the year and motorists are urged to be cautious especially in the mornings. Veld fires are very common during this time of the year and they affect visibility on the road.

Statistics analysed by the Road Traffic Management Corporation indicate that the month of July is one of the periods in which the country experiences a high number of road crash fatalities. Most crashes occur on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and they generally happen between 18H00 and 06H00.

·         More than 50% of road accidents victims are between the age of 20 and 39.

·         88% of crashes are caused by human factors, with an average of 40 people dying and 20 left permanently disabled every day.

·         The human factors include a driver failing to keep a vehicle under control, fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances, failure to wear safety belts, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving at excessive speed.

·         Un-roadworthy vehicles and driver’s fitness also contribute to the crashes.

·         Jaywalking, crossing at unsafe places as well as drinking and walking.

·         The use of cell-phones by drivers and pedestrians while on the road

The RTMC urges motorists to obey all road traffic rules and regulations, to also exercise patience at traffic operations and construction sites on the N3 and to be prepared and polite at all times. National, provincial and municipal traffic authorities will be on high alert for especially dangerous driving which includes speeds too high, unsafe following distances, dangerous overtaking and infringement of number plate removal with the clear intention to ensure inaccurate identification of the vehicle.

Issued by Road Traffic Management Corporation