Gauteng traffic: Busy roads to AVOID this festive season

The Gauteng Traffic Police have urged road users to be vigilant and drive with caution as many holiday makers made their way various holiday destinations this weekend. 

High traffic volumes are expected in some of the province’s busy roads as many will be travelling ahead of Christmas.

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Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said together with various law enforcement agencies have begun conducting intensified law enforcement operations throughout the province to ensure safety on the Gauteng roads ahead of the festive season.

Maremane said the operations form part of the provincial government’s efforts to ensure safety on the roads and eliminate criminal elements, while educating and encouraging road users to exercise safe road behaviour during the holiday season. 

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The Gauteng Traffic Police have so far conducted various operations including drunk driving operations, reckless and negligent driver’s operations, public passenger transport operations, driver and vehicle fitness operations, freight vehicle overloading operations and fraud and corruption prevention interventions. The police will target key hotspot areas to maintain law and order while preventing any potential risks that may arise during the festive season.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police would like to urge road users to be vigilant and drive with caution as many holiday makers will be making their way to their various holiday destinations. A number of roads are expected to experience high traffic congestion starting from this week going into the 25th of December, on Christmas Day,” said Mr Maremane. 

Major routes that are expected to include high traffic volumes include: 

• Pretoria to N1 Polokwane.
• Johannesburg to N1 Bloemfontein.
• Pretoria to N4 Rustenburg.
• Pretoria to N4 Emalahleni.
• Johannesburg to N12 Emalahleni.
• Johannesburg to N3 Durban.
• The N12 Potchefstroom to Johannesburg.
• R573 Pretoria Moloto Road.

Maremane reiterated that the Gauteng Traffic Police will be on high alert in response to any unlawful behaviour on the roads.  

“Road users are strongly urged to adhere to traffic regulations, exercise caution, and cooperate with law enforcement officials. This goes a long way in preventing road fatalities and unlawful incidents on the road” he added.

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