{"id":87297,"date":"2018-11-20T14:38:35","date_gmt":"2018-11-20T12:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/?p=87297"},"modified":"2018-11-21T10:03:24","modified_gmt":"2018-11-21T08:03:24","slug":"motorists-cautioned-heavy-holiday-traffic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/middelburg-observer\/news-headlines\/2018\/11\/20\/motorists-cautioned-heavy-holiday-traffic\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorists cautioned of heavy holiday traffic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In addition, all public schools close on December 12, a Wednesday, and open on a Tuesday, a week after January 1.<\/p>\n<p>Traffic will begin to pick up in the week of school closures and traffic volumes will become really heavy from that Friday, 14 December \u2013 the beginning of a long weekend as Monday is a public holiday and when the building industry closes down.<\/p>\n<p>As Christmas falls on a Tuesday, it can be expected that traffic will start peaking on the previous Friday, December 21.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It is OUR responsibility as motorists and pedestrians to reduce the number of fatalities this <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/FestiveSeason?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FestiveSeason<\/a>. Play your part. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/WDR2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WDR2018<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/RoadSafety?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RoadSafety<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Whoa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Whoa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/83UBletMdM\">pic.twitter.com\/83UBletMdM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; SANRAL (@SANRAL_za) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SANRAL_za\/status\/1064141335169589249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The end of the holiday period is also somewhat different: New Year\u2019 Day is on a Tuesday and so is the day public schools re-open on January 8.<\/p>\n<p>This may mean peak traffic on the Monday before.<\/p>\n<p>Travellers will not experience any delays as a result of road construction. This has been suspended for the duration of the festive season on the N4 freeway from Pretoria to Mozambique, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nra.co.za\/live\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">SANRAL<\/a> said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The road is in good condition but motorists should take care, especially when they are driving during the typical Highveld thunder storms.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nra.co.za\/live\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">SANRAL<\/a> calls on road users to follow important safety tips when they take to the country\u2019s main roads during the holiday period. \u201cThe main message is to remember that a road is a shared space and that you should be respectful towards your fellow road users.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Vusi Mona, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nra.co.za\/live\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">SANRAL<\/a> Communications manager, speed limits are clearly indicated on the 22 214 km of roads managed by SANRAL in all nine provinces. These are maximum limits and drivers should adjust their speed according to conditions such as rain or visibility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpeeding and driving under the influence of alcohol are some of the major causes of road crashes \u2013 road users heed the call to #KnowYourWhoa #Don\u2019tDrink&amp;Drive,\u201d says Mona.<br \/>\n\u201cRoad user behaviour contributes a lot to road crashes and we appeal to motorists to respect the rules of the road and to also ensure their vehicles are roadworthy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Our Road Safety Graphitti artists hard at work <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SANRAL_za?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SANRAL_za<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Knowyourwhoa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Knowyourwhoa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/SANRALBTTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SANRALBTTC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/X5uxLkMMWJ\">pic.twitter.com\/X5uxLkMMWJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Financial Bunny (@ImcocoMash) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ImcocoMash\/status\/857596953806467072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Motorists can use a variety of SANRAL tools to help plan their travel better. They can visit the SANRAL website,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nra.co.za\/live\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\"><b>www.nra.co.za<\/b><\/a>\u00a0for help in planning their journeys.<\/p>\n<p>SANRAL has made available a series of videos to help motorists plan on their journeys &#8211; what route to use, what to expect on the road, the estimated expenditure for tolls and rest spots on the route.<\/p>\n<p>Motorists can also download the SANRAL App for convenience of topping up their e-tag accounts from the comfort of their cars.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe app can be downloaded for free on all Android and iOS devices and also offers users information about road conditions, traffic congestion and incidents on the road enabling motorists to plan their journeys in advance,\u201d explains Mona.<\/p>\n<p>Incidents should be reported to either the South African Police Services (10111) or the National Traffic Call Centre (NTCC) on 012 665 6075, alternatively to the TRAC Rescue team at 0800 872264 (0800 TRAC N4).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Other News:<\/h3>\n<p><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/86645\/hawks-members-sent-jail-fraud\/?repeat=w3tc\" target=\"_blank\">Hawks members sent to jail for fraud<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/86626\/watch-place-refuge-vibrant-village-now-ghost-town\/?repeat=w3tc\" target=\"_blank\">WATCH: The Place of Refuge \u2013 Once a vibrant village, now a ghost town<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/86570\/watch-robbery-caught-video-police-looking-suspects\/?repeat=w3tc\" target=\"_blank\">WATCH: Robbery caught on video, police looking for suspects<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/86481\/three-counts-poaching-one-week-toll-keeps-rising\/\" target=\"_blank\">Three counts of poaching in one week \u2013 and the toll keeps rising<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Want breaking news on the go?<\/h3>\n<p>\u2022 Save our standby number (072 248 3855) and send us a WhatsApp message with the words \u201cAdd me\u201d to be added to our broadcast list.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Like us on\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiddelburgObserver\/\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a>, follow us on\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MOBSERV\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mobserver\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Subscribe to our\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCs1fP1J8BpepNwIfk2qeVkQ\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/newsletter-signup\/\" target=\"_blank\">Click on the link<\/a>\u00a0to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter via email.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Have a news tip?<\/h3>\n<p>Contact our news room on our 24 hr standby number\u00a0072 248 3855, or send a mail to our editor\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:tobie@mobserver.co.za\" target=\"_blank\">tobie@mobserver.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Peak traffic on the country\u2019s national roads might occur earlier than normal because of the days on which December and January public holidays fall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8164,"featured_media":41925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Press Release","cxt_disable_google_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[14950,14949,12719,1767,14944,14945,10010,12898,14947,14948,2023,14946,10333],"class_list":["post-87297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news-headlines","tag-dontdrinkdrive","tag-knowyourwhoa","tag-trafficupdate","tag-arrive-alive","tag-festive-season-traffic-updates","tag-heavy-holiday-traffic-to-be-expected","tag-local-news","tag-middelburg-news","tag-safe-dravels-for-holiday-goers","tag-sanral-press-release-on-holiday-traffic","tag-traffic","tag-travel-safe-this-christmas","tag-trusted-news"],"category_labels":{"Category":"News","SubCategory":"Local news"},"tag_labels":["#Don'tDrink&amp;Drive","#KnowYourWhoa","#TrafficUpdate","arrive alive","Festive season traffic updates","heavy holiday traffic to be expected","local news","middelburg news","safe dravels for holiday goers","SANRAL press release on holiday traffic","traffic","travel safe this christmas","trusted 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