Motorists are urged to be vigilant this festive season

The Gauteng traffic police urged motorists to be alert and adhere to road laws for the Festive holidays.

It warned that several major roads are expected to experience high traffic congestion this coming weekend going into the 25th of December, on Christmas Day.

“We urge road users to be vigilant and drive with caution as many holidaymakers will be making their way to their various holiday destinations,” the department said.

Safer Festive Season

The @GTP_Traffstats have so far conducted various operations including drunk driving operations, reckless & negligent driver's operations, public passenger transport operations, driver and vehicle fitness operations, freight vehicle overloading operations. pic.twitter.com/UUKUCh7sG2

— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) December 22, 2023

Various operations, including drunk driving operations and reckless and negligent driver’s operations, have been conducted.

The department had conducted public passenger transport operations, driver and vehicle fitness operations, and freight vehicle overloading operations.

The @GTP_Traffstats urge road users to be vigilant and drive with caution as many holiday makers will be making their way to their various holiday destinations. A number of roads are expected to experience high traffic congestion going into the 25th of December, on Christmas Day. pic.twitter.com/BsTFYnzNiB

— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) December 22, 2023

“The police will target key hotspot areas to maintain law and order while preventing any potential risks that may arise during the festive season,” added the department.

The following major roads are expected to be affected:

Major routes that are expected to include high traffic volumes include:
1. Pretoria to N1 Polokwane.
2. Johannesburg to N1 Bloemfontein.
3. Pretoria to N4 Rustenburg.
4. Pretoria to N4 Emalahleni.
5. Johannesburg to N12 Emalahleni.
6. Johannesburg to N3 Durban.
7.The N12 Potchefstroom to Johannesburg.
8.R573 Pretoria Moloto Road.

Major routes that are expected to include high traffic volumes include:

Pretoria to N1 Polokwane.
JHB to N1 Bloemfontein.
Pretoria to N4 Rustenburg.
Pretoria to N4 Emalahleni.
JHB to N12 Emalahleni.
JHB to N3 Durban.
The N12 Potchefstroom to JHB.
R573 Pretoria Moloto Road. pic.twitter.com/j6LOkP8PLS

— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) December 22, 2023

According to the 2023/2024 festive season statistics issued by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, Gauteng has had the most road fatalities this festive season.

Chinkunga revealed that more than 700 people have died in road crashes since the beginning of the festive season.

“Crashes have decreased by 0.8% compared to last year, leading to a 4.3% decline in fatalities.

“In total, 719 fatalities have been recorded in the first three weeks of the 2023/2024 festive season compared with 751 in the same period last year,” the minister revealed.

ALSO READ: Video: High-speed chase in Pretoria ends in fatal shooting

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