The Silly Season Surge: Understanding the Festive Road Rush:
December is the time when many South African motorists, hit the road to take a holiday, visit family or just get away. It isn’t called silly season for no reason as each year, this time is filled with a lot of congestion on the roads and many road fatalities across the country. This blog will outline the busiest SA roads over the 2023 festive season. South African drivers are not the safest and this is reinforced by the high rate of traffic fatalities during this season, coupled with the fact that human error appears to be the main cause for accidents that occur over this festive period (De Ridder, 2023).
Prepping Your Ride for the Holidays: A Safety Investment:
According to international research, mishaps like vehicle breakdowns are 50% more likely to occur than accidents covered by insurance (Patel, 2023). To ensure that you and your loved ones are safe over this festive period, make sure to invest in keeping your car in tip-top condition as well as being aware of the traffic patterns and areas to avoid over this holiday break.
Roadside Security: The Power of Mechanical Warranties:
Investing in a mechanical warranty helps to safeguard your car in the event of any mechanical or electrical failures that might occur while you are on the road. Not only does a Motor Plan Direct warranty cover your car for mechanical and electrical failure, but it also comes with free 24/7 roadside assistance, which is critical for keeping safe when you have an unexpected breakdown. Over the festive season, when expenses are typically high, not needing to worry about unexpected vehicle costs is priceless peace of mind (Patel, 2023).
According to the acting general manager for marketing and communication at the South African National Roads Agency, there are several roads which are likely to be the most popular and therefore the busiest over the festive season.
Navigating the Holiday Highways: A Guide to the Busiest SA Roads Over the 2023 Festive Season:
- N2 North Coast – Durban to Tongaat
- N2 South Coast – Durban to Winkelspruit
- N4 East – Pretoria to Mbombela
- N1 North – Pretoria to Polokwane
- N3 South – Johannesburg to Durban
- N1 South – Huguenot Tunnel to Cape Town
- N4 West – Pretoria to Brits
- N1 South – Johannesburg to Bloemfontein (De Ridder, 2023).
Rolling with Confidence: Car Care Essentials:
Keeping safe on the road is about more than just avoiding dangerous drivers and highly populated roads, it is also about ensuring that your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Our service plans are the perfect way to keep your car running smoothly and avoid any potential pitfalls that arise from travelling long distances. Keeping your tyres in good condition is key to keeping safe on the road. Comprehensive insurance companies have been known to reject accidental damage claims for cars fitted with stretched tyres. Fitting a car with stretched tyres makes the vehicle unroadworthy. Improperly maintained tyres are a danger to both you and others on the road and are a leading cause of car accidents in South Africa (Sifile, 2023). Having cover for your tyres and rims in the event of an unforeseen road hazard helps to save you on unexpected costly repairs and prevents you from being stranded on the side of the road. Maintaining your tyres is both essential and costly. With Motor Plan Direct’s Tyres 4 Life policy, you can find an affordable way to maintain your tyres and ensure your safety on the road this festive season.
Reference List:
De Ridder, R. (2023). Festive season travelling: 8 busy roads and when to take the trip. Caxton Network News. [Online]. Available from: https://www.citizen.co.za/network-news/lnn/article/festive-season-travelling-8-busy-roads-and-when-to-take-the-trip/ [Accessed 14 December 2023].
Sifile, L. (2023). Insurer rejects customer’s claim due to risky tyres. Sowetan Live. [Online]. Available at: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/business/money/2023-11-27-stretched-tyres-put-motorist-at-odds-with-vehicle-insurer/ [Accessed 14 December 2023]
Patel, S. (2023). Rev up your protection on the road these holidays. AutoForum. [Online]. Available at: https://www.autoforum.co.za/View-News-Article.aspx?News=rev-up-your-protection-on-the-road-these-holidays-23-38-04 [Accessed 14 December 2023].
