BestDrive Paarden Eiland · Week 39 · From the archive

The Road Brief

Monday 21 September to Sunday 27 September 2026 · Driving conditions, closures and quick checks for drivers in Paarden Eiland, Maitland & Salt River · 4 min read

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The week in one line

Heat to 33 °C on Tuesday with thunderstorms and hail that afternoon, a misty Wednesday, Heritage Day on Thursday, then a blustery weekend.

Heat, hail and a long weekend in one week. Check your pressures cold on Monday morning, keep the wipers ready, and strap what needs strapping before Saturday.

Hour by hour

Mon 21 Sep

Tue 22 Sep

Wed 23 Sep

Thu 24 Sep

Fri 25 Sep

Sat 26 Sep

Sun 27 Sep

Fog

Rain

Wind

Heat

Storms

Shaded columns are night-time (19:00–06:00). Tap a bar for details.

Heads-up · Mon 11:00 → Tue 18:00 · 27 °C on Monday, 33 °C on Tuesday

Hot Monday and Tuesday: pressures climb, engines run hot

Check tyre pressures cold; hot tyres read 3–4 psi high
Watch the temperature gauge in slow traffic
Test the aircon before the week gets hotter

Before you drive

0 of 4

These are quick checks at home or on the forecourt, not an inspection; a workshop check and your service schedule still apply.

Can’t tick one off? Pop in on Saturday (08:00 - 12:00) and we’ll check it while you wait.

Around Paarden Eiland

N1 past Paarden EilandCrosswinds on the open stretch on Saturday and Sunday; holiday traffic out of townWatch
Koeberg Road, Boundary Road to Knysna RoadNight resurfacing 19:00–05:30 Sunday to Friday until 5 November, one lane at a timeRoadworks
Brooklyn & Rugby side streetsResurfacing on Kings Road, Van der Stel Avenue, Narwhal Street and others, 08:00–17:00 Monday to Saturday, until 14 NovemberRoadworks

Coming up

Sat 3 OctBlouberg Marathon. Otto du Plessis Drive closures early Saturday and Sunday
Tue 6 OctSchools reopen. Term 4; the Voortrekker Road crawl returns
Wed 7 OctFuel price adjustment. Petrol heading for a rise of about R3
Fri 16 OctVoortrekker Road upgrade: comments close. Have your say on the plan to widen Voortrekker Road through Maitland

Law & licensing

In forceEffective: 30 July 2026

Long weekend: drunk driving means an impounded car

Under the City’s amended traffic by-law, officers can impound on the spot for drunk driving, reckless driving, street racing and false plates, on top of the criminal charge. With Heritage Day crowds on the roads, don’t risk it.

ProposedEffective: Not in force

No new speed limits, whatever the posts say

The 2022 proposal to cut limits by 10 km/h never became a draft regulation. Urban roads stay 60 km/h, rural roads 100 km/h and freeways 120 km/h unless the signs say otherwise.

Fuel & costs

October is shaping up as a record increase, with petrol around R3 a litre and diesel close behind as Brent crude holds above $100. The Reserve Bank raised rates by a quarter point to 7.25% on Wednesday, taking prime to 10.75%, and named the fuel shock as a reason.

Expected Wed 7 Oct	Per litre
Petrol 95	+R3.07+307c
Petrol 93	+R2.88+288c
Diesel 50ppm	+R3.10+310c

Central Energy Fund data to 25 September. The official figures are announced at month-end.

Wheels out of alignment drag and burn extra fuel. Book an alignment check

From the workshop

A driver’s hand on the steering wheel at dusk

Spring-break road trip? Safety check while you wait

Tyres, spare, brakes, lights and wipers, checked on Saturday morning before you head up the N7 or over the mountains. No booking needed.

44 Marine Drive · Saturday 08:00 - 12:00

What we check

Learn one thing

Learn

How can I tell how old my tyres are?

Find the 4-digit code on the sidewall, like 2319. It means the tyre was made in week 23 of 2019.

Read the answer