Free vehicle testing available for motorists this Easter

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Pretoria - Motorists countrywide can get their brakes, tyres, steering, suspension and lighting tested for free during the Easter holidays.

Retail Motor Industry (RMI) together with National Vehicle Testing Association are currently running a road safety campaign, Free Easter Vehicle Safety Check for motorists countrywide.

The aim of the campaign is to examine as many vehicles as possible to ensure that they are safe and roadworthy.

According to RMI, critical safety items to be checked in a vehicles include indicators, seat belts, windscreen wipers, front and rear tyres, foot - brake front and rear, hand brake and steering mechanism.

Steering control arms, steering box and tie-rod ends, front and rear suspension, exhaust and wheel alignment will also be checked.

The public can contact their regional RMI regional offices to find out more about the free vehicle testing.

Meanwhile, the South African National Roads Agency Limited has warned motorists of delays on some of the national routes.

On the N1, motorists can expect delays from Misgund (Soweto) to Buccleuch due to the construction of six lanes and upgrade interchanges.

From Buccleuch to Brakfontein Interchange, roadworkers will be busy constructing six lanes and upgrading interchanges, while further delays should be expected from Brakfontein to N4 interchange.

Delays can also be expected from 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.

On the N3 motorists can expect delays from Cedara to Heidelberg and isolated shoulder and carriageway repairs will be taking place between Estcourt South and Frere interchange.

Concrete repair works will also be taking place between the Frere interchange and the Thukela Toll Plaza as well as Toll Plaza expansion works on southbound carriageway at De Hoek.

On the N4, delays can be expected from Hans Strydom Interchange to Mozambique due to the rehabilitation and improvement project underway between Wonderfontein and Belfast.

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

According to South African Weather Services there is no rain predicted from the 8-14 April, however all motorists are warned to drive carefully, if weather conditions changes.

Motorists are also advised to report bad drivers to 0861 400 800.