Expect heavy law enforcement on Gauteng roads
Holidaymakers returning to Gauteng can expect high traffic police visibility, intensified pedestrian blitzes, roadblocks, and roadside checkpoints on all Gauteng’s major roads as they make their way back to Gauteng, the community safety department said on Saturday.
Heavy traffic volumes were anticipated on major routes, freeways, provincial, and local routes towards Gauteng from Sunday, as holidaymakers return home ahead of some factories and companies reopening, the department said in a statement.
“It is common practice that motorist avoid using routes where there is heavy law enforcement (roadblocks), visible presence of law enforcement officers in large numbers, and also prefer to travel at night.”
Road users were advised to travel during the day with headlights on to increase visibility, take regular rest breaks every two hours or 200km, buckle up all occupants in the vehicle, and to look out for pedestrians.
“Unsafe or dangerous overtaking leads to head-on collisions which are mostly fatal.” Pedestrians should not walk along or cross freeways, but rather use overhead pedestrian bridges. Pedestrians should avoid crossing busy main roads after consuming alcohol.
Despite continuous efforts on the part of the traffic authorities, motorists continued to break the rules of the road and strategies had therefore been reviewed, the department said.
Problems identified included people walking under the influence of alcohol, drunk driving, speed, seatbelts, and pedestrians still using freeways.
The department urged and appealed to road users to “partner and work with us, assist us realise our objective and mission, ie reducing fatal crashes by 10 percent annually and ensuring Gauteng is a safe and secured province. Remember, road safety is everybody’s business. Take charge – safety starts with you”. –
ANA
(File photo)