Some tips for safe travelling over the festive season

Going on holiday in December means travelling long distances on South Africa’s beautiful highways. Even though you are excited to reach your destination, you still have to manage holiday traffic congestion. Read on to learn some tips to travel safely during the festive season.

Is your car ready to go?

To get to, and enjoy your destination, you need your car to work properly. Your car deserves a good service beforehand. Nothing can be more frustrating than breaking down on the side of the road and spending precious holiday time, and money, to solve the problem. Book your service early to avoid disappointment and to remain safe.

Do you know which route to take?

Carefully plan your route, considering the stops you will make and where you can refresh and refuel. As expected, the major highways such as the N3, N1 and N2 will carry the most holiday traffic. Be mindful of the alternative routes that you could use in an emergency. Check up on the latest road developments or roadworks along your planned route.

When should you leave for your destination?

When timing your travels, take into consideration the peak traffic volumes during the public holidays, which you can find below.

• Public schools close on Thursday, 15 December 2022, which is followed by the Day of Reconciliation, making this an extraordinarily long weekend.
• Christmas occurs on a Sunday, and the Day of Goodwill on Monday, 26 December this too will be a long weekend.
• New Year’s Day occurs on a Sunday, making Monday, 2 January 2023, a holiday.
• Public schools reopen on Wednesday, 11 January 2023.

Now that the planning for the holiday trip is complete, all that remains is the journey itself.

Keep a positive attitude

Road safety is underpinned by a good attitude and abiding by the rules of the road. Be a defensive driver: gracious, forgiving and patient towards other drivers. After all, everyone on the road is in the same boat – wanting to reach their destination as soon as possible. Avoid aggressive driving and in doing so you will prevent triggering road rage.

Try and miss city traffic rush hours

Avoid arriving at a city or town during rush hour. You may already be tired from driving for many hours, so negotiating unnecessary heavy traffic may be frustrating.

More information on the national highways

The N1 national highway connects Cape Town to Beit Bridge, the border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is the main artery from Johannesburg and Cape Town, making it extremely busy during the festive season. The N2 highway runs along South Africa‘s east coast, whilst the N3 highway connects Johannesburg and Durban. KZN’s beaches are the closest beaches to Johannesburg, making the number of holidaymakers heading for the coast along the N3 very high.

Get there safely

Remember, when driving long distances, the holiday begins when your journey begins. It’s not a race, and you need not arrive at your holiday destination before a specific time. So, relax while you travel and enjoy the journey. What is crucial is that you and your loved ones arrive safely.

Disclaimer

This article aims to give you tips on how you can ensure that you arrive safely at your holiday destination during the festive season.¹

As part of planning your holiday trip, make sure you have a good and reliable car insurance policy. Make sure that you understand all the exclusions of your policy. For instance, some insurers may not cover your car while driving on a dirt road. Contact us at PMD should you need more information or would like to learn more about our affordable car insurance car insurance products, world-class experience, and unique benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply. Enjoy peace of mind while you travel, knowing PMD is there to assist you when you need us most.

Before you buy a financial services product, consult a certified financial advisor for professional advice.

We at PMD wish you a relaxed, pleasant, and safe journey to your holiday destination.

Source:

¹https://aa.co.za/holiday-travel-tips-from-the-aa-2/

This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.