With the winter months fast approaching, Cape motorists have been cautioned to be extra careful when driving on wet road surfaces, or through flooded roads as experienced across various parts of Cape Town recently.
Several areas across Cape Town experienced localised flooding, according to the City of Cape Town‘s disaster risk management, with areas such as Dunoon among the areas hardest hit due to the inclement weather.
In Edgemead, residents also had to roll up their sleeves to help motorists navigate flooded roads. The Edgemead Neighbourhood Watch reported that their patrollers had to help clear trees that had blown over, partially blocking roads, as well as redirect traffic in affected areas.
Crews from the City of Cape Town were also called out to unblock stormwater drains in Edgemead Drive. Meanwhile, the power supplier, Eskom, also reported that some areas across the Cape had experienced electricity outages over those same two days due to the bad weather.
June is just over a month away when more heavy rain and wet roads are expected.
“Many motorists underestimate conditions and their abilities. We find that speeding, drunk-driving and other driving offences remain challenges, even when prevailing conditions demand extreme care,” says Kevin Jacobs, spokesperson for the City’s traffic services.
While driver fitness and capabilities is a major determining factor, so too is the condition of their vehicle, Jacobs says. In many instances, basic vehicle maintenance is overlooked. This includes making sure that window wipers are working properly; lights and indicators, which are critical to ensure visibility, but also alert other road users to your intentions, are working, and that the condition of a vehicle’s brakes and tyres, which can cause drivers to lose control in wet conditions, are optimal.
Safety tips
So, our advice to the motoring public, Jacobs says, would be to ensure that:
- They are alert and sober behind the wheel at all times;
- That all occupants are strapped in, and that the driver obeys the speed limits at all times and reduces speed where necessary;
- Drive with your headlights on to improve visibility and increase following distances;
- Allow more travel time to reduce the risk and need for rushing and to accommodate higher traffic volumes as a result of road and weather conditions;
- Use navigational tools where possible to check for road closures or high traffic volumes and find alternative routes where possible;
- Always make sure that you have enough fuel, that your tyre pressure and tread adhere to standards, that you have a spare tyre in good condition and the necessary tools to change a tyre, in the event that you experience a puncture;
- Before you set off, make sure that your phone is charged, that you have sufficient airtime or data to summon help if need be and also share your live location with someone close to you, particularly if driving late at night, or if you have to travel via or through high-risk areas
The Edgemead Neighbourhood Watch also recently issued a safety notice to local residents, encouraging motorists to reduce their average speed, turn on their headlights, maintain a safe following distance, avoid heavy braking and to watch out for standing water during heavy rain.
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