KZN motorists ignore calls to stay indoors amid bad weather
There was major traffic congestion along the N3 on Sunday afternoon after defiant KwaZulu-Natal motorists ignored an order not to go snow watching in the Midlands.
N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) media liaison officer, Anita Heyl, said congested traffic was causing tremendous pressure on emergency services at Nottingham Road in the KZN Midlands.
Heyl said the public had ignored urgent appeals not to go snow watching.
"This puts tremendous pressure on emergency services already working under difficult conditions in the area," she said.
Motorists had been advised to avoid the N3 toll route as light snow flurries and sleet were starting to fall in high-lying areas.
The N3TC earlier urged road users not to travel under treacherous conditions.
"Please heed our warnings. You may be compounding the problem and diverting emergency resources away from critical activities at this time. Ignoring cautionary advice may put yourself and others at risk,” said N3TC’s commercial manager, Con Roux, in a statement.
Roux said there was a high likelihood that local residents and travellers could be snowed-in "as roads may have to be closed in the interests of safety of road users and emergency- and rescue teams."
Emergency teams' ability to address and clear the route as quickly as possible depended heavily on the compliance of all road users, Roux said.
(Picture: supplied)