Avoid travelling at night this winter school holiday
While most motorists prefer to travel at night, it's not advisable during the winter cold and the risks involved in travelling at night.
The school holidays have officially kicked off, and many families look forward to holiday fun.
While it's great to look forward to a holiday, it can also be a bit daunting. Travelling with the entire family and ensuring everyone's safety can leave the driver feeling a tad bit anxious. So, to avoid that extra bit of anxiety, it's best to travel during the day.
Motorists are urged to avoid travelling on the N3 at night during the winter holidays. Besides the usual risks, travelling at night brings the added risk of the cold.
"A review of crash data from the 2024 winter season shows that a significant number of serious and fatal crashes along the N3 occurred during those hours, often involving single vehicles where drivers had lost control," reports The Witness.
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Thania Dhoogra, chief operating officer of N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), shared that drivers are most at risk during late nights and early mornings (between midnight and 5 am).
"Cold temperatures can make winter driving uncomfortable and increase road safety risks, especially between midnight and 5 am," she told The Witness.
Dhoogra noted that incidents are caused by "driver fatigue, distraction, reckless behaviour, or the effects of car heaters, which may contribute to drowsiness, especially among long-distance truck drivers."
Travelling during the day is best to avoid putting yourself and others at risk. However, if it is unavoidable, it's best to be prepared.
It would be a great help to pack things such as blankets, water, snacks, a phone charger, torches, power banks, warm clothing, medical supplies, and medication.
While the N3TC’s Route Services teams will be on the lookout, motorists must remain vigilant and drive safely on the roads.
For any assistance, motorists can contact the 24-hour N3 Helpline at 0800 63 43 57 or follow @N3Route on X for real-time updates.
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