South Africans who are hitting the open road during the festive season should be aware that certain routes are more treacherous than others, especially at this time of the year when drivers are in a jolly mood.
According to MasterDrive, an advanced driver training organisation headquartered in Johannesburg, the following routes have among the highest accidents rates in the country over the festive break:
- Harrismith – On the N3 in the Free State
- KwaMhlanga – On the R573 in Mpumalanga
- Mankweng – On R71 in Limpopo
- Mbizana – On the R61 in the Eastern Cape
- Middleburg – On the N4 in Mpumalanga
- Mount Alyliff – On the N2 in the Eastern Cape
- Musina – On the N1 in Limpopo
- Nongoma – On the R66 in KwaZulu Natal
- Potchefstroom – On the N12 in North West
These popular roads will be traveled by many this coming December, and if it’s impossible to avoid them, drivers must remain extra vigilant to prevent unforeseen incidents.
MasterDrive further warned that individuals who only recently started driving may lack the skills and experience to manage challenging on-road experiences.
As such, these drivers should think twice before getting behind the wheel, and for parents with newly-licenced children, it may be especially unwise to hand over the keys to the family car while you take the passenger seat.
“New drivers simply lack the situational awareness experienced drivers have,” said Eugene Herbert, MasterDrive CEO.
“Studies show experienced drivers are capable of perceiving and recognising potential hazards much faster than inexperienced drivers – a few minutes delay that can have tragic consequences.”
Moreover, if a young driver has friends in the car, the risks are even higher.
“A study by the AAA foundation for Traffic Safety says a teen driver’s risk of death increases by 44% every 1.6km with one teen passenger, and quadruples if there are three,” said Herbert.
Increased police presence
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) recently announced that it will be stepping up law enforcement operations around the country in preparation for the holiday period.
The organisation has “vowed to clamp down on unroadworthy vehicles” which contribute to accidents and fatalities on the roads, it said.
The RTMC put specific emphasis on looking for cars with defective brakes and lights, poor-condition tyres, and cracked windscreens, stating that it “will not hesitate to discontinue and even impound vehicles” with these issues.
If a vehicle is impounded for not being roadworthy, the owner will have to pay for it to be repaired and sent in for a roadworthy inspection before it will be allowed out on the roads again, in addition to traffic fines and impoundment fees.
Keyword: 9 roads in South Africa with high accident rates