Easter Safety Tips for SA Motorists

Easter is almost upon us, and South African families are looking forward to a well-deserved break. Whether you’re heading for the coast or have designed the perfect “staycation” at home, the holidays give you the perfect chance to unwind, relax and break from your normal routine.

Unfortunately, these breaks from routines often results in the safety of people being compromised, particularly motorists, notes Cartrack South African CEO, Andre Ittmann.

“The crime figures that we extract through from our data demonstrates that the periods where motorists are more at risk often correlate with a change in routine. It’s important to be aware of this, to take common-sense precautions and to have the required knowledge of what to do if you find yourself in a threatening situation.”

Ittmann says that during a normal working month, cars are mostly parked in secure areas, whether at home or at the office. However, he adds, during holiday time, families are more relaxed and likely to split into groups to engage in activities which often involve driving to, and parking in, strange places.

This scenario creates an increased risk, and he therefore suggests that motorists follow these safety tips:

General Safety Tips

1. Make sure that your vehicle is fully serviced and has been checked by a mechanic before you leave for your trip.
2. Plan your route and make sure that you share the plan with friends or family staying back home. Also, make sure that you let these people know when you’ve arrived at your destination. Not only is this generally polite, but communication is a great and easy safety tool.
3. Avoid talking on your cell phone while you walk to your car – you will be distracted and criminals may notice.
4. Only unlock your car when you’re near to it. Have your key ready, but not visible.
5. Manually check that your car doors are locked after you’ve pushed the locking device – don’t just trust the beep, as criminals are known to jam signals and gain access to your vehicle.
6. Check the rear-view mirror occasionally to see if you are being followed – if you think this might be happening, drive to your nearest police station or a busy public area.
7. Avoid driving with your windows open, and keep the doors locked at all times.
8. Avoid distractions while driving, such as using a cellphone. Remember, texting while driving is extremely dangerous. If the message is urgent, pull over and park before you read it, write it or send it.
9. Leave half a vehicle length in front when stopping behind another vehicle. This allows you to make an emergency escape if necessary.

Ittmann adds that ensuring safety isn’t merely a matter of keeping your eyes peeled for external danger; it’s also important for people to follow a clear routine inside the vehicle. He notes that if they follow these common-sense actions and make them part of their routine inside the car, they will considerably reduce the risk of an incident or theft.

One should also be cognisant that extra safety precautions need to be taken to ensure the safety of children:

Safety Tips for Children

1. Make sure that everyone has their seat belts on and that these seatbelts are secure before you drive anywhere.
2. Make sure all valuables within the car are kept well out of sight.
3. Keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible (until at least two years old). Baby muscles aren’t developed enough to withstand the impact of a collision.
4. When your children outgrow a rear-facing seat (at around two years old), move them to a forward-facing car seat.
5. Double-check your car seat to make sure it’s still safe for use by finding the label and checking the expiration date. If you’re unsure about anything related to car seats, visit wheelwell.co.za for more safety tips and advice.
6. Centre seats are firm physical structures – make sure older children sit on these seats.
7. Sharp-edged toys can cause injuries in a crash, so be extra careful to choose soft toys for the trip.
8. Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, as it exposes them to both safety risks and heat stroke.
9. Place sun visors on back seat windows to protect the kids and prevent sun burn.

Ittmann concludes that taking these precautions into consideration will help ensure that the Easter holidays are a safe, fun time for people and their families.

“The Easter holidays should only be a time for joy and family togetherness, and there shouldn’t have to be worries about the safety of you and your family. By taking precautions and applying these basic safety measures, you can significantly minimise risk and make sure that your Easter break is a relaxing, happy and safe occasion.”

Cartrack is a global leader in fleet management, stolen vehicle recovery and insurance telematics, and has tracking technology installed in more than 750,000 commercial and private vehicles worldwide.

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