Motorists have been warned to stay alert and focused on the N3 Toll Route, between Heidelburg in Gauteng and Cedara in Kwazulu Natal, ahead of the upcoming Easter long weekend. N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) the company responsible for the N3 Toll route has asked motorists to exercise greater caution and help bring down the fatality rate on all South African roads during the holidays.
“Car crashes remain one of the leading causes of accidental death. To ultimately make a difference to statistics every single driver has to take full responsibility for adopting defensive driving techniques, staying alert and in control on the road,” says Con Roux, Commercial Manager of N3TC.
To ensure the N3 Toll Route is as safe as possible, the members of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), provincial traffic authorities along with public and private emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) will be deployed during this peak holiday period.
The N3 Toll Route is one of the busiest transport corridors carrying freight between South Africa’s inland provinces and KwaZulu Natal’s port city, Durban. As holidaymakers now also start making their journeys to the numerous holiday destinations in easy reach from the N3, traffic figures are expected to increase sharply.
A particular area of concern is overtaking in Van Reenen’s Pass and N3TC appeals to motorists, particularly returning from their holidays heading north on the N3 Toll Route to plan ahead and share the road responsibly. Conditions on Van Reenen’s Pass can often be challenging with poor visibility caused by mist, rain, wind and snow. Drivers often do not compensate for the conditions, often driving at high speed, putting themselves and other road users at risk.
N3TC appeals to road users to stay calm and patient at peak times. Slow moving traffic and congestion may cause frustration which too often results in aggressive and negligent driving patterns.
Before leaving home, get the latest road conditions to help you avoid unexpected problems on your planned journey. Contact the 24-hour N3TC Route Control Centre on 0800 63 4357 (0800 N3 HELP).
