Lifesaving ways to reduce your risk on the road

We’re stuck into the sweaty summer months and with it, there’s additional traffic on the roads. Mostly because this time of year coincides with the holiday season, which the country has dubbed the ‘silly season’ for more reasons than the festive cheer experienced around the country. A key motivation for this oddly positive moniker is the fact that there’s usually a spike in incidents on our roads. And not just of the fender bender variety, because sadly, over the December holiday break there’s a tragic increase in the number of accidents resulting in bodily harm and even death.

The fact is that we have to be vigilant during this time and do whatever we can to reduce our risk on the road. Thankfully, we can assist you there with a few handy tips, including a list of the more dangerous roads that you might want to avoid.

Have your car checked out

Before you hit the road for your holiday destination, we urge you to have your car checked out. There could be a few minor issues that are easy to attend to, but if ignored, could turn into something life threatening while you’re making your way from point A to B.

Here’s what you should look into:

Make sure you check your tyres for nails, bulges, cracks, and thinning tread.
Have a professional look at your brakes.
Look at your wipers for signs of wear and replace for a smoother, cleaner windscreen if the rain hits while you’re driving.
Check all fluids and top up anything that’s low.
Anything that doesn’t sound or smell right.

What to do with your furry travel companions

It’s surprising how many holiday makers are keen to travel with their furry family members, but we get it. Our beloved animals are hard to part with. If you’re loathe to be separated from your pet, please be aware that unrestrained animals can lead to added distractions for the driver and added dangers for all passengers. It’s not just that they could bounce around in the car, but it’s pretty tempting to pet, play, and feed your adorable pet. Consider using a pet restraint system to limit their ability to distract you.

Buckle everyone up

Yep, everyone in the car must be buckled up. Not just the adults, but your kids should also be in age-appropriate car seats and properly strapped in. Not only is this a legal requirement in South Africa, but freely roaming kids can be incredibly distracting and put everyone at risk.

Be aware of dangerous roads

While it’s all good and well to suggest that you should avoid high-risk routes, if you have no choice then that’s just that. What you can do is plan your trip so that if you’re traversing any of these dangerous stretches of road, you’re doing so during the day and that you’re driving more cautiously.

It’s worth noting that while many of the accidents recorded on these roads are due to speeding, driving under the influence, or negligent driving, there’s the chance that you could be hurt as a result of driving in the vicinity of 1 of these drivers.