Travelers urged to plan their road trips amid a global pandemic

The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) recommends that all travelers carefully plan and prepare for their road trips on the N3 toll route this summer, and that they stay informed of travel conditions at all times.

N3TC manages 415 kilometers of the N3 toll road between Heidelberg in Gauteng and Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal.

Thania Dhoogra, N3TC’s operations manager, said that many South African companies are operating later in December to make up for lost time and revenue as a result of the previous hard shutdown, and schools and universities will also close and reopen later.

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He said that because of this, the traditional peak summer vacation season is expected to be very different from previous years.

Dhoogra said the N3TC has carefully prepared for every anticipated eventuality.

“We are ready to welcome an influx of tourists to the N3,” said Dhoogra.

She said that earlier this year, the national level 1 blockade resulted in a disruption to the N3 toll road maintenance and rehabilitation program. N3TC contractors have done their best to make up for lost time and are ready to stop all road works and accept essential maintenance work on Friday, December 18.

“Some of the previous sections will remain subject to temporary speed restrictions and, for safety reasons, they may continue to be partially blocked due to incomplete construction. The good news, however, is that at least two lanes will be open to traffic in each direction along the entire route during December, ”said Dhoogra.

Accident data continues to underscore the importance of individual driver responsibility

Analysis of accident statistics and traffic data on the N3 toll road reveals that human error continues to be the main contributing factor to light and heavy vehicle accidents (69% in light vehicle accidents). and 83% in heavy vehicle accidents), Dhoogra said.

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Of the total number of crashes recorded last year, the main types of crashes were individual vehicles leaving the road or individual vehicles rolling; followed by head-tail collisions; lateral blows and multiple accumulations. All of these factors point to careless driving, Dhoogra said, including speeding, a general lack of concentration, distraction, aggressive driving behavior, and ignoring traffic signs.

Mechanical vehicle failures, including brake failures and tire blowouts, contributed to an average of 11% of light motor vehicle crashes and 13% of heavy motor vehicle incidents. These incidents can be avoided by keeping vehicles in good driving condition and in good mechanical condition.

Trash is not only unsightly, it can pose serious security threats.

He said maintenance crews collect more than 6,000 garbage bags along the N3 toll road every month. In addition to garbage that can be bagged, debris such as metal, rubber, vehicle parts, and falling cargo can pose serious threats to road safety, health, and the environment.

N3TC route patrol teams sweep the entire route in both directions every day to remove dangerous objects. Additionally, they respond to reported scenes to remove potential dangerous objects from the road as quickly as possible. They will redouble their efforts during the upcoming peak traffic season, but road users can help them even more by reporting potentially dangerous objects on the road to the N3TC Route Control Center on their 24-hour helpline: 0800 63 43 57 .

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Law enforcement and visible partnerships improve road safety

There will be an increased presence of law enforcement and emergency service providers, including community medical services. They will be highly visible and will be stationed at various key points along the route to respond quickly to emergency situations.

Travelers should prepare for multiple traffic control points along the N3 corridor where random drug and alcohol tests will be carried out, as well as vehicle fitness checks. The speed synchronization application is in effect throughout the entire N3 toll road.

Beware of toll plazas

11.6% of the total claims registered on the N3 Toll Route during 2019 occurred in the vicinity of the toll plazas.

These incidents can be easily avoided by adhering to the various warning signs and slowing down early enough when approaching a toll plaza, ”said Dhoogra.

“Reduce your speed and stay alert around toll plazas, especially when congestion is experienced during peak traffic conditions. To further help road users to choose the correct plaza lane, we have improved the overhead marking at all toll plazas. “

Traffic forecasts

The following traffic forecasts provide an indication of expected traffic volumes and peak conditions on the N3 toll road southbound (towards KwaZulu-Natal) and northbound (towards Gauteng) this holiday season.

Slow moving conditions are expected when traffic volumes are high. High (heavy) volumes constitute more than 1500 vehicles per hour in a particular direction. On the N3 toll road, volumes can increase between 2,000 and 3,500 vehicles per hour on peak days.

N3TC advises all road users to follow reputable sources of information to keep abreast of all current conditions, traffic updates and alerts on the N3 toll road.

“Real-time traffic information greatly helps road users to be better prepared and safer drivers. Therefore, we recommend that you pay attention to all warning signs on the road and also involve your passengers to talk to us on Facebook or Twitter: @ N3Route or get updated and verified traffic information from the line of 24-hour help from N3TC: 0800 63 43 57 You can also call this number if you need help during an emergency or to report any problems while traveling on the N3 between Heidelberg and Cedara, ”concluded Dhoogra.