As many people make their way back to Gauteng from the Easter holidays, heavy traffic is expected on most of the busy roads.
Driving in congested traffic can be tiring but your safety is of paramount importance.
Without the right attitude and driving techniques in these conditions, driving can become very dangerous. Arrive Alive offers advice on how road users can be safer when driving in heavy and congested traffic.
Planning the Drive
- Safe and defensive road behaviour starts even before you get on the road.
- Driving in heavy traffic requires increased focus and attention, placing more strain on the body – a good rest before the drive would help prevent driving tiredness.
- Checking weather and road conditions in advance helps you plan a route and more awareness about what to expect along the way.
- Plan in advance – do not be the cause of your frustration and need to rush.
- Often leaving 15 minutes before the start or after the end of peak hour can dramatically decrease the flow of traffic on your drive.
- Plan to avoid the worst holiday peak traffic periods when many highways become congested.
Driving Defensively
Defensive driving includes the skills and situational awareness needed to prevent dangerous situations on the road before these occur.
- Drive in a manner that will allow the time and space to respond swiftly to any emergency situation.
- Avoid aggressive driving and weaving from lane to lane – you are driving – not playing Tetris.
- Follow the flow of traffic.
- Keep your eyes scanning traffic and road conditions.
- Adjust driving to the traffic, road and weather conditions.
- Identify hazards such as drivers and vehicles that appear unsafe, erratically merging across lanes, speeding dangerously, or drifting within a lane.
- Keep a close eye on the driving patterns of others, as well as road signs indicating detours, construction work or other obstacles in your way.
Caution when Driving at Night
- Some drivers try to avoid holiday traffic congestion by driving at night.
- Be aware that nighttime driving may be three times more dangerous than driving during the day because of additional risk factors such as poor visibility, drunken pedestrians, animals on the road, tiredness and lack of concentration.
- Be alert in heavy traffic to the additional strain on the eyes caused by the lights from oncoming vehicles and the continuous ‘dim and bright’ from headlights.
Driving at a Safe Speed
- Drive at a Safe speed – the speed limit may not be a safe speed, especially in heavy traffic.
- Be Proactive – Pay attention to heavy traffic in the distance. When approaching a crowded section of road, you should take your foot off the accelerator and coast forward, allowing friction to slow your vehicle.
- This will also reduce your speed while saving fuel.
- Weaving in and out of lanes trying to find the fastest-moving lane won’t save you much time and only increases the risk of road crashes.
- By slowing down, you can avoid potential collisions with jittery drivers who just don’t have the patience to deal with traffic delays.
Avoiding Distractions
- Driving in heavy traffic requires an increased focus and alertness.
- The road will be crowded with cars, the flow of traffic irregular, and people will start getting impatient, leading to them trying to merge where they likely shouldn’t.
- Keep both eyes on the road, both hands on the steering wheel and all your focus on driving.
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