Roadside response areas to assist with safety over Easter

Netcare 911 and Gauteng traffic have set up a roadside response area at the N1 / N4 split North of Pretoria. Netcare Pretoria East Hospital emergency staff are also assisting with the whole operation.The location allows easy access onto the Pietersburg and Witbank freeway or heading into Pretoria if required.

At around mid-day today traffic flow was smooth and no incidents had been reported.
The Arrive Alive web site will be up and running and traffic related updates will be available.

This is in anticipation of high traffic volume expected as many people leave Gauteng and begin their holiday travels.

Gauteng traffic authorities will at a later stage be able to give traffic volume figures.

Road users are urged to drive carefully, arrive alive and to enjoy their holiday.

[ Information provided by Netcare 911 to the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog]

NETCARE 911
Emergency No. 082 911

Avoiding road rage and garbage this Easter

How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood?

Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly one can get back their focus on what’s important. With thousands of South Africans on the road over Easter we might benefit from a few pieces of wisdom on the topic…

David J. Pollay explains his story in this way…

Sixteen years ago, I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean.he was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!”

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

“Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.”

I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, “I’m not going to do it anymore.”

Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t. Believe that everything happens for a reason.

Never let the garbage truck run over you..!

Road Safety Checklist For Easter

1 Obey the rules of the road and carry you drivers license with you.

2 Plan the route to your holiday destination and give your self enough time to reach the destination

3 Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before departure. All lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, exhaust system and tyres should be carefully examined for faults.

4 Do not overload.

5 Try to avoid driving after dark if possible.

6 Have a good rest before you embark on your journey

7 Take safety breaks every 2 hours or 200km

8 Do not drink and drive

9 Try to recognize potentially dangerous drivers on and pedestrians alongside the road and keep well clear of them

10 Be visible – drive with your lights on

11 Headlights should be dipped well before an approaching vehicle is within range of the main beam.

12 Always wear your seat belt and see that everyone in the car is wearing theirs.

13 Drive defensively

14 Stay within the speed limit at all times

15 Only overtake when it is absolutely safe to do so

16 Maintain at least a 2 second following distance - this distance should be increased at night, in foggy or rainy conditions and when the road is wet.

17 Expect others not to be as obedient to the law as yourself

18 Be courteous towards fellow road users - keep your temper and resist the temptation to retaliate
Share these suggestions with your family and friends – And may you and your family travel safely this Easter weekend!
[Advice from www.arrivealive.co.za]