Dodge the traffic with Traffic Queen, Rozanne McKenzie!

Rozanne knows all too well about how hectic Joburg traffic can get. In fact, it’s a daily struggle: “I live in Constantia, so I use the 14th Avenue off-ramp of the N1 to get to the Jacaranda FM studio in Midrand every day for 9am. This is traffic central! I sit in traffic on the way to work every day for at least an hour. It used to annoy me, but now I use the time to think. The traffic is not going to go away, so I just accept it. The same goes for taxi drivers or any drivers that cut me off. I’m so relaxed on the roads, I let everyone in in front of me. My main concern, especially with the high accident rate at this time of the year, is to get to my destination safely. ” 

Here are some of Roz's tips on how to be more 'traffic savvy' around Gauteng's roads: 

(1) Leave earlier than normal, even if its 10 – 15 minutes. It can make all the difference if there are any issues on the road

(2) Check Twitter before you leave; @jaca_traffic is the best account to follow because it’s so immediate with any incidents

(3) Have an alternative route on hand. If there are any major incidents, have a go-to alternative route that you can use instead.

(4) A traffic circle is not a 4-way stop. Give way to traffic approaching from the right. Jacaranda FM actually posted a pic on Facebook a while back on how to go through a traffic circle correctly and it was shared countless times. I think this is a puzzling issue for quite a few drivers.

Advice for driving Mom's and Dad's, stuck in traffic

If you are a mom (or dad) and you are stuck in traffic with a toddler, it is always a good idea to have music your children love in your car. 

Rozanne says it does wonders for her son James: “(He) has always enjoyed being in the car. We listen to CDs with nursery rhymes or stories on them to keep him busy. When he does get a bit agitated, I talk to him and tell him how much of the journey is still left and that we’re nearly there. (I’m not sure that he understands, but it makes me feel better). A ricecake or a piece of fruit to eat also normally works to distract James if he’s not enjoying the car journey, ” she says.

Follow Roz on Twitter @RozMcK and on the Workzone with Bridget, 9 am to midday on weekdays.