Every life lost on South African roads is one too many. The 2024 Easter weekend served as a chilling reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility and an issue we can no longer afford to take lightly. Netstar, a leader in intelligent vehicle tracking and safety, is urging every driver to take ownership of their role on the road, especially when driving near large trucks. It is important to remember that behind each statistic is a real-life cut short, a family devastated, and a future stolen.
As South Africans prepare for the Easter weekend, road users are urged to take note of the following high-risk traffic zones and peak congestion times. Based on historical traffic data and forecasts from Netstar’s Global Fleet Bureau, the following three provinces are areas of concern during Easter road travel
Van Reenen’s Pass (Tugela Plaza to Caltex Garage at the summit):
Traffic volumes are expected to steadily increase from around 700 vehicles per hour at the Tugela Plaza to 1,100 vehicles per hour by the end of the weekend. Peak congestion is typically observed between 14:00 and 19:00.
Mooi River Plaza:
Heavy traffic is anticipated on both the Friday and Monday of the Easter weekend, with volumes exceeding 1,300 vehicles per hour between 11:00 and 16:00.
Mariannhill Toll Plaza:
Two key alerts have been issued for this area. On the Thursday before Easter, eastbound traffic is expected to queue heavily, reaching up to 1,800 vehicles per hour heading toward the Mariannhill Toll Plaza.
North Coast:
Southbound traffic heading into Durban is expected to peak from 09:00 on Friday, with volumes around 1,500 vehicles per hour. A reciprocal flow is expected on Monday as holidaymakers return home.
Tugela Toll Plaza:
Congestion is expected to build from 11:00 on Friday, reaching up to 1,000 vehicles per hour. On Monday, return traffic is forecast at around 500 vehicles per hour from 11:00 onwards.
Pumlani Toll Plaza:
Northbound traffic is expected to surge on Thursday, with volumes averaging 2,000 vehicles per hour from 15:00 and peaking between 17:00 and 18:00. Southbound traffic on Monday is projected to increase significantly, averaging over 3,000 vehicles per hour from 17:00.
Middelburg Toll Plaza:
Eastbound traffic is expected to peak on Thursday between 14:00 and 22:00, and again early Friday from 06:00 to 11:00, with volumes averaging around 450 vehicles per hour. On Monday, westbound traffic is forecast to increase from 10:00 to 23:00, with congestion reaching 700 vehicles per hour.
According to data from Netstar’s Global Fleet Bureau are tyre bursts, negligent driving (speeding, risky overtaking, illegal U-turns), driver fatigue or falling asleep, losing control of the vehicle or overtaking in poor visibility.
Heavy trucks are a vital part of South Africa’s logistics backbone. However, due to their size and limitations, they demand more awareness and courtesy from other road users. Did you know that a fully loaded heavy truck can take twice the length of a rugby field to come to a complete stop after slamming on the brakes? This Easter weekend, South Africa’s roads will be crowded with trucks, buses and holiday travellers.
According to Mark Forbes, Netstar’s General Manager Fleet, drivers need to consider the following tips to stay safe on the road:
Netstar fleet clients rely on AI-powered cameras and the expertise of operators at the Global Fleet Bureau to monitor their fleet drivers’ behaviour in real-time, however, these intelligent systems can’t mitigate the actions of private motorists on public roads. Unfortunately, the urgency to reach a destination, means that many ordinary cars may take unnecessary risks, often overtaking slower vehicles or trucks in ways that compromise safety for everyone on the road. In South Africa, a significant portion of truck accidents are attributed to human error, including negligence from other drivers. Specifically, data from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) indicates that between January and March 2024, 84.1% of fatal crashes in the fourth quarter of 2023/2024 were due to human factors
Netstar’s road safety pledge is: Drive like lives depend on it (because they do), don’t become a statistic.
Last Easter, 335 people sadly didn’t make it home. Netstar encourages all motorists and fleet drivers to play their part in making South Africa’s roads safer - personal accountability once behind the wheel, can go a long way to preventing accidents and saving lives on the roads this Easter period.