"Road network and vehicle testing stations"

Creation date: 22 May 2009

All motorists are warned to exercise caution on the roads in order to reduce the number of accidents on South Africa's road over the Easter period. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) supports the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) which together with National Vehicle Testing Association (NVTA) are currently running a road safety campaign from 1 to 9 April 2009. The campaign is called Free Easter Vehicle Safety Check. It is aimed at examining as many vehicles as possible with regard to the condition and effectiveness of safety critical items, such as brakes, tyres, steering, suspension and lighting. It is encouraged that all motorists should do a pre-trip inspection before their departure so they can avoid unnecessary delays and accidents on the road.

Check for the RMI's logo for affiliated members who will be participating in this campaign. The safety critical items to be checked in a vehicle are the following:
* All lights including indicators
* Seat belts
* Windscreen wipers
* Front and rear tyres
* Foot - brake front and rear
* Hand - brake
* Steering mechanism, including steering control arms, steering box and tie-rod ends
* Front and rear suspension
* Exhaust
* Wheel alignment

Traffic volumes are expected to be high from 10h00 tomorrow (9 April 2009) morning till 24h00 midnight. It will resume from 05h00 in the morning of 10 April till midday.

Motorists are advised that major road works are taking place on our national road network. According to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), drivers can experience delays on the following national routes:

N1
* Misgund (Soweto) to Buccleuch, construction of six lanes and upgrade interchanges - Lane restriction in off peak hours.
* Buccleuch to Brakfontein interchange, construction of six lanes and upgrade interchanges - Lane restriction in off peak hours.
* Brakfontein to N4 interchange, interchange, construction of six lanes and upgrade interchanges - Lane restriction in off peak hours.
* Pretoria (N4 interchange) to Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (Plantinum toll highway), six-lane dual carriageway freeway from Pretoria (Proefplaas interchange) to Zambesi interchange changing into four-lane dual carriageway freeway to Bela Bela.
* Buccleuch interchanges to Atterbury Road.

N3
* Cedara to Heidelberg, isolated shoulder and carriageway repairs between Estcourt South and Frere interchange expected completion is May 2009.
* Concrete repair works between Frere interchange and the Thukela toll plaza. Expected completion is February 2010.
* Toll plaza expansion works on southbound carriageway at De Hoek. Expected completion is April 2009.

N4
* Hans Strydom interchanges to Mozambique, rehabilitation and improvement project underway between Wonderfontein and Belfast.

N1 towards Limpopo is expected to be one of the busiest routes followed by these routes N3 towards Durban, N4 towards Mpumalanga.

To report bad all bad drivers you can use the RTMC Call Centre no: 0861 400 800

Contact person:
Mr Collen Msibi
Cell: 082 414 5279

Mr Ntau Letebele
Cell: 082 923 9194

Issued by: Department of Transport

8 April 2009
Source: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kzntransport.gov.za)

Source: http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2009/09041612151003.htm