How to survive South Africa’s roads this festive season

The Christmas period in South Africa is one of the most dangerous times to be on the roads, as people travel across the country to visit family and go on holiday.

As a result, there is a major traffic spike over December and into January, but also a significant spike in road fatalities.

To combat this, the government clamps down on policing every year, especially targeting heavy traffic and high-risk areas.

However, South Africans must take their own steps to prepare and avoid becoming a statistic.

“Treat the festive run like an endurance event. Set conservative ETAs, travel when you’re freshest, and build in buffer stops,” said Mike Pashut, CEO of ChangeCars.

“If your plan depends on perfect traffic and weather, it’s a bad plan,” he said.

10 road safety tips

Pashut provides 10 road safety tips for South Africans, especially those who will be hitting the roads over the festive season.

1. Rest, then roll – make sure to get a good night’s rest beforehand, and stop every two hours or 200km.
2. Plan conservative ETAs – plan for the unplanned. Leave room for surprise weather and roadworks, and plan to stop frequently.
3. Daylight where possible – risks are greater at night as your visibility drops and animals and pedestrians are harder to see.
4. Tyre condition – check your tyre pressure, tread depth, and age. Don’t forget to check the spare tyre as well.
5. Lights on – drive with your lights on. Keep your windscreen and glasses clean, and ensure your wipers are fresh.
6. Following distance – maintain a travelling distance of at least two seconds, and double that when there is rain, dust, or darkness. Don’t tailgate.
7. No distractions – Put your smartphone away, buckle up, and don’t drink.
8. Slow down – pedestrians comprise almost half of road deaths during the festive season. Slow down when passing settlements, schools, and bus stops.
9. Vehicle load – don’t overload your vehicle and secure your load. Overloaded vehicles are much more difficult to control when things go wrong.
10. Child restraints – buckle everyone in. Children under three years old must use a car seat, and those under 1.3 metres tall must use a booster seat.

These tips are essential to stay safe on South Africa’s roads.

Traffic peaks before Christmas and again around 2-3 January when everyone returns home, warns Arrive Alive.