The chill is already in the air and the South African Weather Service has warned of more icy conditions to follow, including snowfalls in certain regions from Thursday, all the way through to Sunday.
This prompted the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) to issue a warning to all motorists to be extra vigilant in areas where snowfall, strong winds and rainfall is expected.
These include stretches of roads along the Dihlabeng, Maluti, Phofung and Phumelela districts and the N3 Toll Route from Van Reenen’s Pass to Warden where snowfall is anticipated.
Motorists are urged to stay tuned for information regarding the possible closure of certain roads and routes along the N3 due to high winds and snowfall which might affect roads conditions. This might cause havoc with traffic, therefore travellers are advised to avoid driving at night or when visibility is poor.
According to N3TC Cooperation’s Manager, Thania Dhoogra: “Our road incident management system (RIMS) including emergency medical services, law enforcement, the road traffic inspectorate, local authorities and route patrol services, have already been mobilised and are ready to provide support where required.
“So-called snow chasers place an additional burden on limited emergency resources, and often cause havoc on the roads during already dangerous conditions.”
She also advised travellers to keep extra blankets, a torch, food, and refreshments. If you have a baby or a passenger with a medical condition, ensure you have extra supplies and medication.
“Adverse weather conditions may cause power failures and communication systems may be under pressure. Keep in mind that you may not be able to make contact with people if mobile and telecommunication networks are down,” reminded Dhoogra.
You can get real-time traffic and weather updates, report problems or obtain emergency assistance whilst travelling on the N3 Toll Route from N3TC’s 24-hour N3 Helpline by dialling 0800 63 43 57 or by following @N3Route on Twitter.
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