You think holiday traffic is bad, you should see the rolling police state on KZN's highways right now. Roads across KwaZulu-Natal are absolutely clogged as everyone tries to get home for New Year's Eve, with authorities reporting massive vehicle volumes and a major enforcement crackdown that has already netted over 2,600 arrests for drunk driving this festive season. Key routes like the N3 near Durban are seeing over a thousand vehicles per hour, with similar surges at the Mooi and De Hoek toll plazas, prompting a huge response from the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Department of Transport, who are running constant roadblocks and patrols.
The enforcement push is intense, with multi-agency teams conducting vehicle checks, speed monitoring, and breathalyser tests at a relentless pace. Over the weekend, more than a hundred people were arrested in Newcastle alone for traffic violations. Since the season began, officers have stopped over 73,000 vehicles and issued charges to nearly eleven thousand drivers. Officials are bluntly warning motorists that breaking the rules could mean spending the new year in a jail cell, emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance, especially toward driving under the influence.
With weather forecasts predicting possible rain and thunderstorms, which could lead to poor visibility and slippery roads, authorities are pleading for caution. They advise drivers to plan trips carefully, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy to prevent breakdowns, and to monitor traffic service social media accounts for real-time updates on congestion. The overarching message, beyond the threat of arrest, is a call for patient and considerate driving to prevent the season's road death toll from rising as the final rush to January first continues.
The enforcement push is intense, with multi-agency teams conducting vehicle checks, speed monitoring, and breathalyser tests at a relentless pace. Over the weekend, more than a hundred people were arrested in Newcastle alone for traffic violations. Since the season began, officers have stopped over 73,000 vehicles and issued charges to nearly eleven thousand drivers. Officials are bluntly warning motorists that breaking the rules could mean spending the new year in a jail cell, emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance, especially toward driving under the influence.
With weather forecasts predicting possible rain and thunderstorms, which could lead to poor visibility and slippery roads, authorities are pleading for caution. They advise drivers to plan trips carefully, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy to prevent breakdowns, and to monitor traffic service social media accounts for real-time updates on congestion. The overarching message, beyond the threat of arrest, is a call for patient and considerate driving to prevent the season's road death toll from rising as the final rush to January first continues.
