Avoid peak hours over Easter
2012-04-05 16:45
Video
2012-04-05 10:12
Traffic authorities are bracing themselves for a surge in traffic as the Easter holiday draws near. Over the years, the holiday has been marred by high road fatalities. WATCH
Mbombela - People travelling on the N4 highway between Pretoria and Maputo this Easter weekend have been warned to avoid peak traffic times.
Traffic volumes are expected to peak twice on Friday and again on Monday when most motorists return home after the long weekend.
“We appeal to motorists to adopt a positive and [a] patient frame of mind at the outset of their journeys,” said Arthur Coy, chief executive of Trans African Concessions (Trac) which manages the toll road.
The Middelburg Plaza is expected to be the busiest tollgate on the N4, while the stretch of road between eMalahleni and Belfast is expected to carry the highest volumes of traffic.
2 000 vehicles per hour
On Thursday, traffic volumes will peak between 16:00 and 618:00 with more than 2 000 vehicles per hour expected to pass through the Middelburg tollgate.
Trac spokesperson Anita Heyl said more cars will be on the road from as early as 06:00 on Friday, while the majority of motorists will pass through the Middelburg tollgate at about 08:00.
Other busy times on Friday will be between 11:00 and 13:00 but the number of cars on the road will decrease at about 15:00.
Traffic is also expected to be heavy from midday on Monday until 18:00 that evening.
“Although traffic then starts tapering off, the route remains fairly busy until 22:00,” said Heyl.
Accidents
She warned motorists travelling back to Gauteng from Mpumalanga and Mozambique to be aware that they will be driving into the sun, which may have a blinding effect and further slow traffic.
During the first two months of 2012, Trac's accident response and emergency teams were called out to 122 accidents.
Sixty were single vehicle accidents and eight were fatal.
Heyl said most accidents happen because of negligent driving when motorists overtake, make u-turns or drive under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
Trac, Mpumalanga traffic officials and other emergency personnel will be stationed along the highway throughout the province during the weekend.
In case of an emergency on the N4, call these emergency numbers in South Africa 0800 872 264 or 082 881 4444 and in Mozambique Mozambique: +25 88 4343 4346 or +25 88 2303 4303.
