ROAD-TRIP SAFETY TIPS
South Africa’s beauty is not only in the mosaic of landscapes, cultures, and cuisines, it is also in its heritage and people. Whether its breath-taking views from mountaintops, walking on the beach, enjoying the countryside, exploring heritage sites, viewing the wildlife or simply inhaling nature’s goodness – the Country is home to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. It’s no wonder citizens and tourists take each and every opportunity to travel and explore these magnificent places. As such, roads experience a vast increase in traffic volumes over long weekends and holidays.
Courtesy Santam, we bring you the following road-trip safety tips:
1. The checks to make before you go
- If you’re going to drive long distances, ensure your car is in tiptop condition, especially in unfavourable weather conditions.
- Tyre maintenance: Ensure that wheel alignment and balancing have been carried out, that tyres are in a good condition, that the tyre tread is within legal limits and that your tyre pressure is according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Don’t forget to check your spare wheel too.
2. Check the oil and the coolant of your vehicle
- Windscreen and wiper check: Ensure your windscreen is free of cracks and stone chips, which can affect visibility. Your front and rear wipers should be in a good working order to clear rain and debris from the glass. Remember to fill up your windscreen washer.
- Book that service: To avoid the inconvenience and expense of a mechanical breakdown, it’s a good idea to stick to the service intervals prescribed by your vehicle manufacturer.
- How’s your paperwork? Getting caught with an expired driver’s licence card or licence disk is a hassle you can do without on your holiday, so be sure to adhere to legislation.
- Stock your emergency supply: Invest in a first-aid kit to help you deal with road-trip ailments like motion sickness and small cuts. A torch, glow-in-the-dark triangles and plenty of water and wet wipes are always handy items to carry with you in the car.
3. Planning your journey
Deciding beforehand which routes to take and at which spots to rest will make your drive a less stressful experience, especially if you have little ones in the car. Don’t try to cover too much distance in one day – tiredness and lack of concentration often lead to accidents.
When you plan your trip:
- Keep an eye on the news, listen to radio reports or check Twitter (e.g. @TrafficSA or #Traffic) for weather predictions, route updates and traffic alerts.
- Use apps such as Google Maps to plan your routes and to see where the most congested areas are.
- Share the responsibility of driving when you’re covering long distances.
4. Driving tips for your road trip
Some things are non-negotiables when you’re driving, such as texting or talking on your cell phone while driving or drinking while driving - more specifically driving under the influence of alcohol, which is considered the biggest cause of road accidents in South Africa.
- Always wear a safety belt and make sure all the passengers in the vehicle do too. If boisterous children are distracting you, don’t hesitate to make a stop to calm them down, and be sure to pack lots of games to keep them entertained.
- Don’t overload your vehicle. Is it worth being the camper with the coolest gear if it makes your car top-heavy and unsafe on the road?
- Look out for road hazards and always expect the unexpected. Advance driving instructors will always tell you to think and look as far ahead as possible, anticipating what fellow drivers – and pedestrians – might do next.
- Never disobey the speed limit and keep a safe following distance. Accidents often happen when motorists are overtaking one another, misjudging distances and timing.
- Be on the lookout for obstructions like potholes or animals, especially in rural areas.
And lastly, we want to remind you to also ensure that you are adequately insured in the event of an accident or incident does happen.
Contact us today or call us on 014 592-1077.
