As thousands of South African holidaymakers head towards coastal destinations this festive season, incident response teams on the N3 Toll Route have sounded a sharp alarm over escalating reckless driving, particularly in the wake of heavy traffic flows during the opening holiday weekend.
Figures released by the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) show southbound volumes towards Durban reaching 12,000 to 13,000 vehicles per day across all classes at the De Hoek and Mooi Toll Plazas on 12 December and 13 December 2025.
With these numbers in mind, the N3TC has forecast similar surges ahead, especially on 19 December and 24 December, and has urged heightened vigilance.
Against this backdrop of anticipated congestion, driver behaviour has come under sharp scrutiny. N3TC route incident manager Praveen Sunderlall issued a blunt assessment, warning that even persistent wet weather and the inherent dangers at crash scenes appear insufficient to curb reckless conduct.
“Not even the persistent wet weather conditions along the route, or the dangers present at crash scenes, appear to deter some motorists. Many drivers are driving with a complete disregard for traffic laws, their safety, or the well-being of others.”
Sunderlall went on to describe how offenders routinely ignore speed limits, bypass warning signs, and disregard flagmen who are deployed to slow approaching traffic near obstructions or accident sites.
“Motorists frequently continue at high speeds through closed sections, veer off the road to pass crash scenes, ignore warnings, and block emergency lanes. When emergency lanes are obstructed, critical response times are delayed and lives are placed at greater risk,” said Sunderlall.
In a direct appeal from the front line, emergency responder Clifford Daniels added: “This behaviour is not only compromising our ability to do our jobs, it is directly threatening our lives. We work under extreme pressure at these high-risk scenes and rely on road users to strictly adhere to basic safety and traffic control protocols.”
Excessive speed in slippery conditions remains the primary trigger for collisions on the N3 Toll Route, according to N3TC data, often causing vehicles to aquaplane and spin out of control. Yet response teams report that many drivers refuse to moderate their pace amid rain or dense traffic.
“We regularly observe drivers not reducing their speed sufficiently on wet roads,” Sunderlall remarked, adding that some persist in exceeding limits, hogging the fast lane at 130–140 km/h, and forcing aggressive overtakes even as queues build or lanes close.
As the next major traffic peak looms from 19 December 2025, the N3TC has called for a decisive return to essential discipline: adhere strictly to regulations, drop speed in rain or reduced visibility, respect signs and alerts, drive defensively, and follow instructions from scene managers and police.
These fundamental steps could avert preventable tragedies and protect everyone on the road.
The reality on South Africa’s highways underscores a broader issue of accountability, where impatience and defiance not only escalate crash risks but also endanger the very responders tasked with mitigating chaos.
As volumes swell and weather turns unpredictable, authorities warn that unchecked conduct could transform routine journeys into fatal ordeals, demanding immediate collective resolve from all road users.
Ultimately, the N3TC’s pleas highlight a preventable peril, one rooted in basic lapses that compound into widespread harm. With enforcement strained and lives hanging in the balance, the imperative falls squarely on drivers to prioritise caution over haste, ensuring safer passages for the festive period and beyond.
Are you hitting the road tomorrow? Let us know below.
Be sure to read, Reflections on the Evolution of Surgery with Dr Luvuyo Dyasi, if you missed it.
One Response
Never i traveled once in that traffic it was crazy Never again I stay at home for Christmas and encourage my family to do the same it’s great being with loved ones