Traffic operations along the country's major highways have been beefed up ahead of the festive season, the Roads Traffic Management Corporation said on Friday.
"There will be visible patrols along highways with heavy traffic, as well as a joint operation with the department of transport to clamp down on passenger transport," spokesman Ashraf Ismail said.
He said the main focus would be on the N1 and N4 highways as well as on the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban.
"At one stage on the N3, over 2200 cars were passing through the Mooi River Plaza every hour," Ismail said.
He said road blocks would only be conducted in metropolitan areas.
"By Tuesday, there were 456 fatalities recorded on the highways over the season. The number is only preliminary, and I'm sure it will have risen since then."
He said most accidents had resulted from speeding, reckless overtaking and drinking and driving.
"We appeal to drivers to follow all the rules of the road, to reduce speed in areas where it has rained, and to observe a prudent following distance.
"Drivers should chill out, relax, be polite and be prepared to allow us to our job. This is a thankless task, because if we don't do our job, and even if we do do it, we are still criticised."
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