Pretoria - Traffic volumes are expected to pick up from tomorrow as the festive season gets into full swing, said the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) on Thursday.
"Traffic along the country's arterial routes is expected to increase as of tomorrow," RTMC spokesperson Ashref Ismail said.
Traffic is expected to be heavy along the N1 from Pretoria to Polokwane, the N3 from Johannesburg to Durban as well as the N4 East and West plus the N1 south from Mangaung to Cape Town.
"We appeal to all to obey the rules and regulations of the road and not to drink and drive or drink and walk," said Ashref.
Traffic authorities will also be on high alert.
He said since 1 December over 670 people have lost their lives on South African roads.
This was due mainly to driving at a high speed for circumstances as well as people not being visible on the roads in addition to pedestrians walking on freeways.
The RTMC expressed concern at the low number of people wearing seatbelts as well as the overloading of vehicles.
Meanwhile, Lead SA has called on authorities to partner on a campaign to name and shame convicted drunk drivers.
Speaking at the launch of the RTMC's media campaign "Get There. No Regrets" Lead SA's Yusuf Abramjee said that it was worrying to hear that 60% of pedestrians and drivers die drunk.
The campaign is aimed at creating awareness around road safety issues.
Last year, Lead SA launched a pilot project in the Western Cape to name and shame convicted drunk drivers. Provincial authorities say that it has led to a decline in the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.
"If we are really serious about making a difference and bringing down incidents of drunk driving, we firmly believe that the name and shame campaign will make a difference. We again call on government to act with urgency," said Abramjee.
The RTMC indicated that road fatalities will drop by 30% if everyone buckled up - a call Lead SA continues to make on all South Africans to wear their seatbelts at all times, he added.
