Rise in road traffic this weekend

HOLIDAY road traffic is expected to increase across the Western Cape and the country this weekend as most holidaymakers head home.

Traffic authorities have again appealed to motorists to be safe on the roads, not to drink and drive, and to buckle up.

Schools across the country are set to open on Wednesday for the 2019 academic year and all indications are that traffic will surge this weekend.

Arrive Alive said it already noted an increase in traffic volumes on the N1 highway in various provinces as holidaymakers travelled back home.

Motorists, many travelling from their various holiday destinations, said they appreciated the high visibility of law enforcement officers on the roads.

Provincial Transport spokesperson, Siphesihle Dube said in the Western Cape, 169 people lost their lives on the roads this festive season.

A year ago that figure stood at 149. According to the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral), the national road network is, however, in good-to-excellent shape and able to handle increases in traffic and even extremely high volumes at certain times.

Sanral’s Vusi Mona said there would be no road construction work during the festive season and when people were travelling back home which would help ensure free flow of traffic.

The three public holidays in December have proven to be the busiest traffic days in South Africa over the festive season.