In the past couple of months, load shedding has returned with a vengeance, and it looks like it will be our reality for a while. According to Arrive Alive, power cuts are unfortunately going to be a reality for years to come. This has been confirmed by both the Government and the electricity supplier, Eskom.
There isn’t much we can do about the outages that disrupt traffic and traffic flow, but we can have the right attitude that can reduce unnecessary risks. The right mind and attitude can go a long way in terms of saving your life and others'. It is therefore vital to get into your car prepared for the challenges this creates and then manage them calmly and safely.
Here are some tips on how to navigate the roads safely during load shedding:
Traffic Lights / Intersections
When traffic lights are out, this can cause a lot of rage and frustration, which can trigger road rage. Here are some basic tips to follow that will protect the road user and avoid frustrations:
- When the traffic lights go out because of load shedding, it is critical to treat every traffic light as a stop street or a four-way stop.
- When this happens, you must follow the Rules of the Road for a four-way stop, and even if there is no traffic from the other roads, you still need to stop.
- If the vehicle in front of you crosses the intersection, you will have to allow the vehicles from the other stops to enter the crossing before you can make your move.
- Pay attention to the sequence of vehicles from other directions approaching the intersection.
Make sure you ease your frustrations
- Increased traffic and interruptions can cause a lot of driver frustration; therefore, it is important to plan ahead and stay calm.
- Keep an eye on load shedding schedules and attempt to avoid areas experiencing outages during your travel times to prepare yourself for traffic.
- Drive a bit earlier than the time you usually get out to avoid feeling pressured while driving.
- Remain calm and patient, and do not let your frustrations get the better of you.
- Put on some calming music to help you stay calm.
- Refrain from using rude gestures that will cause unnecessary road rage.
Inadequate street lighting
- When power outages occur, they remove safety features such as street lighting that make it difficult for drivers to spot road hazards such as potholes, debris, and even pedestrians on the road surface.
- Drive slowly to increase your reaction time to avoid any possible danger.
Safety from criminal elements
- Crime spikes during load shedding, therefore motorists should be attentive to the dangers of criminals lurking in the dark.
- Hijackers and smash-and-grabbers, are likely to take advantage of the darkness; therefore, it is vital to be attentive and raise your level of awareness.
Stay on top of load shedding
Make sure you stay on top of load shedding by checking the schedule for your area. You can download load shedding apps that keep you updated so that you can plan your day ahead of time. If you have an Android device, you can download the Load Shedding Notifier from the Play Store, and if you’re using an Apple device, you can download EskomsePush from the Apple Store.
We are all annoyed by load shedding but it is vital to make sure that we arrive alive at our destinations. Load shedding is, unfortunately, going to be a reality for years to come. It is therefore important you get into your car prepared, calm, and highly alert.
Article credit : Arrive Alive
