Hitting the KZN roads this festive season? Travel tips for a safe and smooth journey

The N3 Toll Concession - the organisation that manages most of the busy N3 route between inland provinces and Durban - expects vehicle volumes to pick up towards the end of this week. 

Speaking to Newswatch, spokesperson Con Roux said the last week has been relatively quiet on the freeway - despite schools closing for the December break. 

He says he's expecting road activity to increase from tomorrow, with Friday (December 16) being a public holiday (Day of Reconciliation). It also signifies the end of the work year for many businesses across the country.

And with Durban's beaches known for attracting thousands of holidaymakers to our sunny shores each year - and with many travelers reliant on road transportation to get here - 'out-of-town' number plates will become a more common occurrence.

Roux says the concession - which manages the N3 between Heidelberg in Gauteng and Cedara in the KZN Midlands - is pushing home the notion that human error is the main contributor to crashes on our roads. 

He is advising motorists to schedule their trips outside of peak travel times.

"The 16th we're obviously expecting to be extremely busy, and probably the Saturday as well. A message to motorists is if at all possible, see if you can travel outside of those times - you'll do yourselves a favour, as the service centres along the route does get pretty congested. The main message that we want convey this year is that very high percentage of crashes are actually due to human error," he said.

Roux says respecting the passengers in your own vehicle, as well as those on the road around you, is the first step towards ensuring a safer journey.

"We've done an analysis, and we reckon that something like 61% of all light vehicle crashes are due to human error. And that comes in many forms, such as: negligent driving behaviour, illegal overtaking, tailgating, weaving across lanes, U-turns on a highway, speeding, driver distractions, being impatient or aggressive on the roads, violating traffic laws and other safety regulations," he said. 

The N3 Toll Concession has taken to social media with much enthusiasm in recent years, especially Twitter - to keep motorists up-to-date with driving conditions, road closures, and traffic implications along the route - as well as providing safety tips - among other things. 

Having access to its Twitter feed during your journey could be a great addition to your decision making. But remember: don't text and drive!

You can find the concession on Twitter: @N3Route