Safety tips to stay safe during the holidays

For many South Africans, the December summer break means road-tripping along one of our national highways. It’s one of the busiest times on our roads and by default, one of the most frustrating times for motorists.

With thousands of people embarking on their well-deserved Christmas holidays, congestion escalates while impatience mounts, which leads to irritation, road rage, reckless driving… and ultimately road accidents.

The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) shares some tips on how to steer clear of the gridlock and to avoid the dangers of the holiday traffic and stay safe on the roads:

1. Besides obeying the rules of the road, one of the most important holiday travel tips is to maintain a good attitude. Exercise patience, tolerance and even graciousness. Give other motorists a gap where you can and avoid aggressive driving at all costs. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Typically, traffic volumes on all South Africa’s major routes increase during the December break, especially on the N3, and N1 and N2 to Cape Town, as holiday-makers go to various destinations. Always have an alternative route in mind, and stay up to date with road conditions and traffic issues on your planned route. Check out our road conditions calculator.

3. If possible, stagger your travel dates to avoid the peak times. Traffic usually picks up in the week that school closes (this year, from 12 December). Expect heavy traffic on that Friday, December 14, just ahead of the long weekend. Also, Christmas falls on a Tuesday, so traffic should start peaking on the previous Friday, December 21. And because New Year’s Day falls on a Tuesday, and public schools reopen on January 8 (also a Tuesday), this will more than likely mean that traffic will peak on the Mondays before.

4. Apart from the right attitude on the roads, you also need to ensure that your vehicle is in excellent condition, as breakdowns lead to even more congestion. Another holiday travel tip is to have your car checked sooner rather than later, as there may be a rush from many motorists wanting to make last minutes repairs.

5. It doesn’t matter whether you’re heading to Cape Town (the most congested city in South Africa), Durban or Port Elizabeth – not everyone is on holiday – and there’s still such a thing as rush hour. Try and plan ahead to avoid morning and afternoon peak traffic and stay sane in the city.

Remember: going on a long journey is not a race. Arriving safely is more important than reaching your destination in ‘record time.’ Plus, preparing for a road trip by having the right attitude, a clear mind, and a well-maintained car is as important as the holiday itself.