EDITORIAL | This Easter, mind the traffic — and the potholes, trucks and weather

Easter is a special holiday for many — for religious reasons or as a time to catch up with family and friends.

But holidays inevitably mean travel — and excess traffic on our roads means a greater risk of accidents, injuries and deaths.

Thousands will flock to Moria in Limpopo this weekend for the annual Zion Christian Church pilgrimage, which is back in full swing after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Last year 45 people died when a bus transporting them to Moria from Botswana plunged off a bridge and caught fire. An eight-year-old girl was the sole survivor.

This year Putco will operate about 500 buses from its new fleet equipped with GPS tracking and live-feed cameras for the event. This is good news for those making the journey and will hopefully result in safer passage.

But for the average motorist a deluge of trucks, a plethora of potholes and historically insufficient law enforcement on the roads will make this weekend a high-risk time for travel.

Thursday afternoon, Friday and Monday are expected to have the highest volumes of traffic. The Road Traffic Management Corporation says most fatal road accidents over the Easter weekend occur after sunset. About 95% of accidents are caused by human factors including speeding and drunk driving.

Several years ago, government wisely amended the school calendar so school holidays did not fall over Easter, which helped ease traffic congestion during this notoriously deadly weekend. However, with the department of basic education this week announcing an “extra” week of holiday from April 28 to May 2, some parents may be tempted to skip the four school days next week, giving them a substantial holiday from Friday, April 18, to Monday, May 5. And that, of course, will mean more road trips, busier roads and a higher potential for accidents.

Add in the weather — heavy rains, cold temperatures and even a smattering of snow have been forecast for some areas of the country, pushing the risk factor into the red zone.

Last year, 335 people died on our roads over the Easter weekend, significantly up from 252 in 2023.

Let’s try to bring that figure down again. For those behind the wheel this weekend, ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and be vigilant, courteous and patient as you advance towards your destination. Your life — and the lives of others — depend on it.