Gideon Cloete works for the N3 Toll Concession as an incident manager, rushing to scenes of accidents on the toll route. Speaking to
FleetWatch, he could not stress highly enough the danger posed to road users by smoke from veld fires burning alongside the roadway.
It gets very dry down here come winter and veld fires alongside the freeway are a daily occurrence," says Cloete. "We also get heavy mist. When we get called out to an accident scene, chances are its veld fire related and let me tell you, it's a frightening experience. Drivers simply ignore the basics, like switching on all their lights, reducing speed, rolling up their windows and closing air vents."
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Firebreaks alongside the N3 help prevent fires from destroying neighbouring private property and possible lawsuits. |
Cloete describes horrific scenes where motorists have driven into thick smoke and collided with slower moving vehicles. A female tourist travelling alone and a family in a 4x4 were killed because of this idiotic behaviour. Implores Cloete: "Why drive into smoke when you can't see the other side? It's crazy. One accident occurred because the driver of a car drove into heavy smoke, realised he couldn't see further than his bonnet and then reversed his vehicle!"
Obviously, drivers of all types of vehicles aren't treating fog, mist and smoke the way they would a thundershower or snow blizzard. It seems they regard these as mere blips on the radar, to be driven through at normal cruising speed...unaware that there may be stationary vehicles and people in the cloud. It's time to educate them otherwise!
From its side, Cloete says the N3TC has an obligation to prevent fires that may have started alongside the freeway from spreading to neighbouring private property. The burning of firebreaks is done under stringent controls and only on 'green' days when it safe according to the 'fire rating index'. If wind direction changes while a fire break is being burnt and smoke begins to reduce visibility for road users, the fire is immediately extinguished.
In the case of runaway fires, the N3TC immediately notifies emergency services and dispatches its own route patrol vehicles to flag motorists and put up warning beacons.
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To help raise awareness about veld fires, the N3TC has erected signs with a toll-free number for motorists to call to report fires. |
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Fires spread rapidly in dry regions and cover several kilometres in a couple of hours. |
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N3TC personnel burn a firebreak alongside the highway. |
