Image: MasterDrive
Loadshedding is here to stay and with upwards of 10 hours of outage per day at the moment, it has a great influence on the flow of traffic too. Here are some tips to keep in mind for road users when Eskom flips the switch.
Image: MasterDrive
As frustrating as it may be, loadshedding is a part of our lives and will likely remain in one form or another for several years. Other than the obvious limitations the challenge has on our lives in our homes or workspaces, it has a major impact on traffic congestion and nighttime driving too.
MasterDrive CEO, Eugene Herbert says the key to managing the added stress the outages add to daily trips is to remain calm. “As frustrating as it may be, accept that loadshedding is a reality. Get into your car prepared for the challenges this creates and then manage them calmly and safely. When you let frustration rule your decisions behind the wheel, it becomes dangerous.”
While we deal with this tumultuous time, it is worth noting that power outages and non-functioning robots can cause added delays to our commutes. With such widespread outages, it is almost impossible to avoid areas affected by loadshedding. Navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze are able to calculate the least congested route and provide a realistic ETA at the destination. Regardless, your daily commute to the office will likely take longer with loadshedding so plan this into your schedule and always give yourself extra time behind the wheel to avoid unwarranted reckless driving or added frustration.
Not only is the slow flow of traffic hindered by the staggered movement of cars, but accidents and bumper bashings are rife, which further exacerbates the congestion. The dense traffic also has a toll on older, unmaintained cars and tests their powertrain and cooling systems to failure. Ensure your car is operating optimally to avoid causing additional congestion with an unecessary breakdown. In the scenario that your vehicle does fail, attempt to move it off of the main road into a safe space before rectifying the issue.
As always, be cognisant at intersections and ensure that it is safe to proceed without abruptly stopping causing a concertina effect for the cars behind. This also applies to reckless and abrupt driving that can have an adverse effect on other road users. Herbert further adds: “Do not drive in a way that you may later regret. Accept that these challenges are likely to affect you and make a mental commitment to handle them safely.”
In scenarios where points-people are directing traffic, be patient and follow their instruction. Since they are a limited resource, treat intersections without them as the law requires; as a four-way stop.
As we grapple with stage-six and stage-five loadshedding, our grid can be without power for almost 10 hours per day. This also includes Eskom flipping the switch at night, which means urban commutes after the sun has gone down will not be illuminated with street lights. The most obvious aspect of nighttime driving is ensuring your car has properly functioning lights, this will not only help you navigate safely but ensure your vehicle is visible to other roadusers in the dark of the night.
Approach intersections with caution, even if there is no traffic and ensure it is safe to proceed however be extremely cognisant of your surroundings with opportunist criminals waiting in the dark depths. Don’t be a sitting duck and don’t become a crime statistic.
One day at a time, South Africa.
Keyword: Dreading driving during loadshedding? Here are some tips