Vehicle Safety Tips for South Africans

We have compiled a few safety precautions and tips that could assist in safeguarding you against one of these crimes:

• 1Lock all your doors while in your vehicle.
• 2Fit anti smash-and-grab film on your windows if possible. The film makes it very difficult to shatter windows and will also give you time to react and drive off.
• 3If you don’t have smash-and-grab window film, leave your vehicle windows slightly open by about three centimetres. This makes the glass more flexible and will allow the window to absorb the sudden impact of an attempted smash-and-grab.
• 4Be vigilant of your environment. This is one of the most important habits to form as a motorist.
• Keep your eyes open for people and other vehicles acting suspiciously and avoid them if possible.
• Ensure that you are not being followed by checking your review mirror regularly and taking note of the vehicles driving in the same direction as you, or that has been behind you for a period of time. Changing lanes, taking alternate routes and making a few false turns should give you a good indication if you are being followed.
• Try and avoid distractions, such as talking on your phone. It will take your focus away from your surroundings.
• 5Keep valuables out of sight by storing them under your seat, in the cubby, or preferably in the boot of your car.
• 6If you are aware of an intersection or road which is known for being a hijacking or smash-and-grab hot-spot, try and avoid it as far as possible. Criminals use peak hour traffic to their advantage, as vehicles are boxed in and unable to manoeuvre and get away. That being said, remember to leave a distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow room for escape from a dangerous situation.
• 7When returning home, scan your environment and try and open your gate electronically while approaching it. Don’t get boxed in in your driveway. Keep enough space to drive away and escape if needed.
• 8Check that your vehicle is in good running order so that you do not have a breakdown. Keep an emergency number or security assist number on your cell phone to call immediately in the event of a breakdown.
• 9When you approach a red light, slow down and try to reach the intersection just before it turns-green to ensure you do not have to stop dead.
• 10Keep your hands close to the hooter so that you can alert other people if you are in trouble.
• 11If you encounter obstacles in the road, such as rocks or tyres, do not get out of your vehicle to remove them. Instead, reverse and drive off in the opposite direction.
• 12After you have parked, don’t just press your remote and walk away. Push the remote to arm your car while you’re standing there, and then try the doors and boot to ensure that everything is locked.

Prevention is better than cure. But, in the event you do become a victim of vehicle-related crime, ensure that you have comprehensive car insurance that provides the widest cover. Comprehensive car insurance should cover you for incidents like theft and hijacking, accidental damage, fires, natural disasters and third-party liability, to mention a few. Make sure that you are adequately insured in the unfortunate event that you find yourself needing to claim to repair or replace your car.

You are welcome to contact any of our brokers at De Wet De Villiers Brokers for additional information or advice, and to discuss and plan ahead for the financial impact associated with car damage or theft: 014 592 1077.