Weather has always had the power to make or break a holiday. Think about it.
As children, a trip to the beach or the park could hinge on one question: "What does the weather look like?"
We would wake up hoping the forecast had not changed overnight and that our parents would not be forced to deliver the dreaded news that the outing was cancelled.
As adults, checking the weather before a journey becomes second nature. Yet planning around the weather is becoming increasingly complicated as extreme conditions disrupt travel.
In recent cold snaps, heavy snow and freezing rain have not only slowed traffic but brought parts of the road network to a complete halt.
Mountain passes were closed as conditions deteriorated, with authorities forced to shut down key routes for safety reasons.
Several secondary roads were also temporarily closed or rendered impassable due to ice, snow accumulation and poor visibility, leaving motorists stranded or diverted for hours.
These closures highlighted how quickly essential travel corridors can be disrupted when winter weather intensifies.
South Africa was given a stark reminder of this in September 2024, when severe snowfall brought parts of the N3 between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State to a standstill.
Road users were stranded for almost two days between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith, with Van Reenen’s Pass among the worst affected areas.
The conditions were deadly. Two people died from hypothermia after becoming trapped in vehicles during the snowstorm, including a 39-year-old woman who had been travelling in a minibus.
It was a reminder that a journey which begins in sunshine can end in conditions for which neither the driver nor the vehicle is prepared.
According to Bobby Ramagwede, chief executive officer of the Automobile Association of South Africa, motorists need to recognise that their own behaviour is one of the biggest variables they can control.
“Travellers obviously expect that they’re going to go from A to B without real hassle. In fact, the biggest variable available to them to manage is their own behaviour,” he says.
That responsibility starts before leaving home.
Ramagwede says travellers should know the condition of the vehicle they are about to drive.
“Have you checked your tyres? Have you checked your batteries? Have you checked your suspension?” he asks.
The checks may sound basic but they become critical when weather and road conditions deteriorate.
Once on the road, following distance matters. Ramagwede says that “the faster you drive and the closer you drive to the vehicle, either behind you or in front of you, the narrower the margin you have to correct in the event of something happening outside of expectation”.
His advice is to increase following distances and “share the road”.
Mountain passes bring another layer of risk. Ramagwede points to Van Reenen’s Pass, where road markings indicate where motorists can and cannot overtake.
“Time after time, we hear of accidents that involve vehicles overtaking or vehicles occupying lanes that were not dedicated for that type of vehicle,” he says.
The warning is particularly relevant when visibility is poor or roads are slippery. Drivers should also resist the temptation to become distracted by the scenery.
What to do when the weather changes
The National's motoring journalist Willem van de Putte says the first response to heavy snow, ice, fog or severe rain should be to slow down.
“The first thing is to slow down rather than trying to maintain the speed you were doing earlier,” he says.
“Increase your following distance, switch on your lights, avoid sudden braking or steering inputs and, if visibility becomes seriously compromised, find a safe place to pull over until conditions improve.”
For anyone driving in snow for the first time, the biggest mistake is treating the road as though it were dry.
“Driving as if the road surface is still dry” is the mistake van de Putte warns against. He advises motorists to slow down and be gentle with the brakes, accelerator and steering.
If a vehicle begins to lose traction, panic can make the situation worse.
“Do not panic and make sudden steering or braking inputs,” he says. “Ease off the accelerator, look where you want the vehicle to go and make smooth steering corrections.”
For vehicles fitted with ABS, van de Putte says drivers should keep firm pressure on the brake rather than pumping it.
The vehicle matters
Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive can be useful in winter conditions but neither makes a vehicle immune to slippery roads.
Van de Putte says good tyres are probably more important.
“While decent ground clearance, electronic stability control and predictable braking are all useful, the driver and the tyres remain the biggest factors,” he says.
Ramagwede makes a similar point, warning that South African vehicles are generally not configured specifically for snow and icy conditions.
“The rule is quite simple. The slower you move, the more time you give yourself to react,” he says.
For travellers renting a vehicle, he also recommends looking beyond fuel consumption and luggage capacity and checking the car’s safety rating.
Euro NCAP and Global NCAP ratings can help consumers make more informed decisions about vehicle safety. The AA has also urged motorists to use NCAP safety ratings when choosing vehicles.
If you get stranded
When a snowstorm brings traffic to a standstill, the vehicle can become the safest place to wait.
“The car is your safest shelter,” says van de Putte. He advises against walking off in search of help unless you know exactly where you are going and it is safe to do so.
On an isolated mountain route, he says motorists should be prepared to remain in the vehicle “even overnight”.
That means carrying warm clothing, blankets, food, water, a charged phone or power bank, a torch, a first-aid kit and reflective warning equipment.
Before setting off, travellers should check more than the weather forecast. Van de Putte recommends checking the condition of the route, possible road closures, fuel stops and alternative routes.
The vehicle itself should have correctly inflated tyres with sufficient tread, working brakes, lights, wipers and a demister, as well as a healthy battery and enough fuel.
The AA similarly warns that worn tyres become particularly dangerous in wet, snowy and icy conditions. Someone should also know your planned route and expected arrival time.
For Ramagwede, the wider message is about vigilance.
“South African road conditions require a level of diligence and vigilance of road users,” he says.
“What you used to assume to be a smooth piece of tarmac could quite easily change within the blink of an eye.”
Winter road trips do not have to be abandoned when the weather turns. But they do require travellers to change their approach.
Check the vehicle. Check the route. Check the weather. And when conditions deteriorate, slow down.
The safest journey is not necessarily the fastest one. It is the one that gets you home.
zamandosi.cele@nationalmg.co.za