Alert: Almost half of accidents in 2009 on N4 Toll Route caused by speed (Jan to April)
Speed directly causes loss of control over vehicles. Almost half of all accidents this year were single vehicle accidents (47%) where the driver lost control.
Speed law enforcement by camera is now regularly done in construction sections and at high accident zones along the N4 Toll Route, and as determined by the Provincial Traffic Authorities.
Furthermore, recent traffic monitoring on the N4 Toll Route indicated that many road users do not adhere to the 2-second following distance rule. This caused 19% of the head-tail collisions during the first 4 months of 2009.
Tyres in a poor condition are a major safety risk. 12.7% of accidents on the N4 Toll route during this year were caused by tyre blow outs.
Consider your own and fellow road users’ safety:
Adhere to speed limits
Keep a proper following distance
Ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy
Regularly check tyre pressure
Don’t make u-turns on the highway
Always drive with the utmost care and concentration
Look out for pedestrians and slow moving vehicles (SMV)
Pedestrian accidents often increase during the winter months, mainly because of poor visibility caused by fog and also because the sun sets much earlier in winter.
Avoid driving in the yellow line. Pedestrians often walk in this area and they are not visible until is too late. Always be cautious and on the look out for pedestrians crossing the highway, especially in the Witbank area.
Winter is also citrus harvesting season. Many slow travelling tractors with trailers use the main road in Schoemanskloof, Croc Valley and Kaapmuiden areas. More casual labourers are employed during harvesting season which leads to a significant increase in pedestrian traffic in these areas.