Mbombela - People travelling on the N4 highway between Pretoria and Maputo this Easter weekend have been warned to avoid peak traffic times if possible.
Traffic volumes are expected to pick up from midday on Thursday and peak twice on Friday and again on Monday when most motorists return home after the long weekend.
"We appeal to motorists to adopt a positive and patient frame of mind at the outset of their journeys," said Arthur Coy, chief executive of Trans African Concessions (Trac) which manages the toll road.
The Middelburg Plaza is expected to be the busiest toll gate on the N4, while the stretch of road between eMalahleni and Belfast is expected to carry the highest volumes of traffic.
On Thursday, traffic volumes will peak between 4pm and 6pm with more than 2000 vehicles per hour expected to pass through the Middelburg toll gate.
Trac spokesperson Anita Heyl said more cars will be on the road from as early as 6am on Friday, while the majority of motorist will pass through the Middelburg toll gate around 8am.
Other busy times on Friday will be between 11am and 1pm but the number of cars on the road will decrease around 3pm.
Traffic is also expected to be heavy from midday on Monday until 6pm that evening. "Although traffic then starts tapering off, the route remains fairly busy until 10pm," said Heyl.
She warned motorists traveling back to Gauteng from Mpumalanga and Mozambique to be aware that they will be driving into the sun, which may have a blinding effect and further slow traffic.
Heyl said most accidents happen because of negligent driving when motorists overtake, make U-turns or drive under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
Other accidents on the N4 are caused when drivers lose control of their vehicles or concentration, due to speeding, tyre bursts or when vehicles are unroadworthy.
Trac, Mpumalanga traffic officials and other emergency personnel will be stationed along the highway throughout the province during the weekend.
In case of an emergency on the N4, call these emergency numbers in South Africa 0800872264 or 0828814444 and in Mozambique Mozambique: +258843434346 or +258823034303.
