Easter traffic can create frustration among stressed drivers with queues and congestion.
When the road conditions are also slippery in several places, it is important to stay focused and not rush out on the roads.
– Above all, you should plan your trip and make sure you have a time buffer instead of rushing off and thinking you can make up the time, says Bengt Ohlsson, press manager at the Swedish Transport Administration.
During the Easter weekend, there are certainly fewer cars on the roads than normal. However, traffic is concentrated on certain routes, which can lead to congestion and high traffic in some places. This applies, for example, to the E45 from Gothenburg north towards Värmland and Dalarna, and national road 50 from Örebro in a northbound direction.
– There will be many cars there that don't normally drive there, says Bengt Ohlsson.
A large traffic flow can certainly make many drivers stressed and a little frustrated. But Bengt Ohlsson points out that it is especially important to take it easy in traffic at a time when there is plenty of company on the roads.
– Make sure to take your time and don't rush. Keep in mind that you will be accompanied by drivers who don't usually drive this long.
Check the weather
This is especially important for those planning to travel the E4 stretch between Gävle and Hudiksvall, where the Swedish Transport Administration, in collaboration with the police, will close one lane during the Easter weekend for safety reasons.
– We started this shutdown a few years ago and it has caused the number of serious accidents to drop significantly.
Another factor that must be considered when planning your journey is the weather. Bengt Ohlsson points out that the road conditions can be slippery due to the persistent cold, which makes it extra important to be careful in Easter traffic.
– There are quite a few snow piles that melt during the day, causing water to run off onto the roads that freeze to ice at night. This can cause some unpleasant surprises.
Risk of sleet
The Easter weather otherwise looks to be off to a nice start, with sunny and clear skies in many places. But it won't be warm, according to Linus Dock, on-call meteorologist at SMHI. And in some parts of the country it looks like it will be snowy on Maundy Thursday.
– In the southern parts of the country there may be some snow, especially in southern Götaland. Exactly how much snow there will be is difficult to answer, but it seems to coincide with warmer air, so it could probably be a question of wet snow, says Linus Dock.
Source: TT
