We get it, Pretoria’s not exactly the safest place in South Africa. But there are lots of attractions and activities you can enjoy there with family and friends, so there are plenty of reasons to head over.

Wondering if it’s safe to drive to Pretoria? To add to your peace of mind, we looked into the major routes to the city and assessed its overall safety. 

Is it safe to drive to Pretoria?

It’s fairly safe to drive to Pretoria since most roads leading to the city are properly maintained, making it easier for you to navigate your way.

Below are the main factors we considered in determining the safety of different routes to Pretoria from various parts of South Africa:

• Good Road Maintenance: We chose routes that are properly maintained with no major cracks or drainage problems in the road.
• Well-lit: We went for well-lit routes, which make it easier to find your way even at night.
• Proper Signage: We picked routes that have proper signs that are easily distinguishable from a distance.
• Wide Lanes: We ensured that these routes have at least two good lanes to avoid congestion.
• Strict Monitoring: We checked if the routes have CCTV cameras around the area and electronic notice boards along with other traffic management features.
• Easy Navigation: We went for routes that are easy to navigate through Google Maps even if it’s your first time.
• Fast Response Team: We looked into the speed of the response team for accidents on the route in terms of fixing and clearing the road.

In case you’re wondering how we rated each route, we used a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. 

What are the major roads leading to Pretoria?

Ben Schoeman Freeway (Johannesburg to Pretoria)

One of the best ways to reach Pretoria – or we can also call it Tshwane – from Johannesburg is through the Ben Schoeman Freeway. It’s the main road for intra-city journeys that consists of different portions namely the M1, N1 and N14 highways.

Since it serves as a corridor for major cities in South Africa, it was improved in 2010 with wider lanes from three to six. Plus, the road lighting was upgraded to high-mast for better-lit roads, making it easier for us to see the pathway, especially at night.

N1 Highway (Polokwane to Pretoria)

The N1 is the second-longest road in South Africa, spanning over 1,900 kilometres in total, with four lanes.

Although it’s connected to the Ben Schoeman Freeway, we believe it’s essential to talk about this separately because it links different parts of the country to Pretoria.

Recently, there have been issues with the increase in criminal activity in the area, resulting in more security patrols to resolve the problem. There’s also stricter monitoring of drivers passing through this highway.

Even if it has well-lit roads, most crimes tend to happen at night so it’s best to remain vigilant at all times to ensure your safety. There are officers on duty with the CCTV cameras on watch too so you can ask for assistance when necessary.

N3 Highway (From Durban to Pretoria)

The N3 is one of the longest four-lane freeways in the country with a well-lit surrounding. It was completed in 2001 after construction started back in 1961.

The route begins in the Central Business District (CBD) of Durban and ends around Gauteng Province. Although it’s a busy road, traffic is managed properly by the officers in charge as they are known for their quick responses in cases of accidents.

In case you have time to spare, you can visit different historic places like the Durban Botanic Gardens, Paradise Valley, KwaZulu-Natal Museum and more through this route.

N4 Highway (From Mbombela to Pretoria)

Although the N4 only has two lanes in both directions, it’s one of the most vital highways in the country. It starts in Skilpadshek and ends in Komatipoort, connecting both the East and West Coasts of the country.

Since its rehabilitation in 2004, the N4 highway has improved its efficiency in controlling loads of vehicles that pass the roads, having a better electronic tolling system and achieving a better road safety management system.

It’s also known as one of the best concrete highways in the country that’s easy to navigate through Google Maps.

Drivers are always reminded to not go beyond the speeding limit or else, will be subject to fines.

By the way, there are recent reports of road-related crimes in N4 so it’s important to remain alert. However, the traffic police are strictly monitoring the situation so you can still pass by here, especially during the daytime – so don’t worry too much!

N12 Highway (From Ekurhuleni to Pretoria)

Apart from the N1, the N12 is the other national route that links the Western Cape to the Gauteng province. It’s also one of the best roads to traverse if you’re from the municipality of Ekurhuleni – aka East Rand – and are going to Pretoria (what is the safest area in Pretoria?).

Even though they only have two lanes, we can comfortably pass by the route. It’s relatively safe with strict police officers and CCTV cameras in the area to control traffic.

FYI, certain road developments are happening on this route, particularly the N12 Daveyton interchange, so there is limited access at times. But rest assured that constructions are done quickly and there are alternative paths provided.