Motorists warned of raging veld fire
Beware of a veld fire on the N3, close to the Pavilion where smoke is billowing onto the road and take note of precautions drivers can use in such adverse conditions common in winter.
MOTORISTS travelling on the N3 heading towards the Pavilion from Durban are encouraged to be vigilant on the road as a veld fire rages on the side of the road.
Smoke from the fire was billowing across the N3 highway causing poor visibility on the busy patch of road.
Garrith Jamieson, director at Rescue Care said winter’s accompanying dry spell usually means an increase in veld fires. “While the fires are a danger on their own, they promulgate a host of challenges for a driver when they occur in the vicinity of a national freeway or major road.
“Veld fires and the way they affect driver behaviour is something we encounter every year and now as we move into the middle of winter, they are becoming all the more prominent,” Jamieson added.
Jamieson said ‘common sense’ governed how to best handle these adverse driving conditions.
“Obviously with a large amount of smoke there will be reduced visibility and often an increase in traffic calming because of this. Drivers should immediately reduce their speed and exercise caution in that specific situation.”
According to Jamieson, if visibility is completely reduced to zero, rather pull your car to a stop in an area that is safe and place your hazard lights on. “There should also be a situational awareness for EMS vehicles which may be responding to the fire and these should be given the right of way,” he said.
