With more than 10 000 deaths annually on our roads, and with the festive season rush and wet weather now upon us, it is time to be extra vigilant on the roads.
We would like to offer all of our drivers the following tips to stay safe throughout the festive season.
General road safety tips:
- Steering
Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times to ensure control of your vehicle. - Speed limit
Keep to the speed limit as speed kills. A driver who exceeds the speed limit by over 20% faces a 50% increase in the chance of being involved in a serious accident. - Following distance
Keep a safe following distance. Maintain a distance of at least 3 vehicles between you and the vehicle in front of you when travelling in normal conditions. In bad weather or on bad road surface conditions, expand your safe following distance even further. A safe following distance allows enough time to stop your vehicle should the vehicle in front of you brake or swerve suddenly. - Tyre pressure
Check your tyre pressure regularly but more importantly, before leaving on long journeys. Tyre pressure plays a vital role in increasing vehicle stability on the roads. Keep your tyres inflated at the prescribed manufacturer specifications to increase your safety. - Tyre tread
Ensure you have sufficient tyre tread left on your tyres to ensure the necessary grip when travelling in wet weather. This minimises the chances of aquaplaning. A minimum of 1.6mm tread depth is recommended and the South African legal limit is a minimum of 1mm of tyre tread, anything below 2-3mm can greatly increase the risk of aquaplaning. - Stay vigilant
Be aware of other drivers and any other potential dangers. Anticipate dangerous situations rather than reacting to them. - Plan your trip
Ensure you have sufficient fuel to take you to your planned destination and familiarise yourself with the areas you are travelling to and from. - Braking
Only brake in a straight line before a turn and do so steadily. Do not apply sudden pressure on your brakes in a turn as this could result in your vehicle slipping out of control. - Turning
Slow down before turning and maintain a consistent speed throughout the turn. Do not make any sudden steering movements while turning. Any sudden movements whilst turning place the vehicle and its occupants under unnecessary risk. - Concentration
Do not be distracted. Stay focused on your trip. Many accidents are attributed to loss of concentration. - Rest
Ensure you are well rested, particularly if you are starting a long journey. Make regular pit stops and plan for safe “pit stop zones” to rest and stretch. - Drunk driving
Do not drink and drive. - Assert your assertiveness
Do not be aggressive. It is better, and far safer, to be an assertive driver than an aggressive driver. Emotion can cloud judgment and reaction time. - Weather conditions
Respect various weather conditions and apply driving behaviour accordingly. - Headlights
Turn your headlights on to increase maximum visibility where required.
Wet weather road safety tips:
- Headlights
Always turn on your vehicle’s headlights when driving in wet or misty weather. - Wiper blades
Before your trip check to make sure that your wiper blades are in good condition and have a good, clean sweep to ensure maximum visibility. - Window fog
Avoid fog build-up on the inside of your car windows as this dramatically reduces visibility. Use the anti-fog features found on most modern cars by blowing cold air onto the inside of your windscreens, or open the window slightly. - Tyre tread
Check that you have sufficient tread on your tyres. - Shock absorbers
Check your shock absorbers before your trip. Worn shock absorbers increase the chances of aquaplaning, even with the best tyres fitted. It also limits the ability of ABS systems to work efficiently. - Poor visibility
Cloudy and rainy weather makes for poor visibility so take extra care when passing other vehicles. Spray from other vehicles reduces visibility considerably and should be anticipated when passing or overtaking other vehicles - Following distance
Adjust your speed and following distance to ensure that you can safely stop within the visible area ahead. Your car requires greater stopping distances on wet roads. Allow at least 4 to 8 seconds between your car and the car in front of you. - Abrupt movements
Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering movements. Sudden stops and turns may result in skidding. - Flooded areas
Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of the wheel rims. If you have any doubt, do not drive through pools of water; rather find an alternative route.
If you have no option but to drive through an area with high water levels, drive slowly in a low gear, holding the steering wheel steady. - Brakes
If you have been driving in heavy rain for some time without applying the brakes or if you drive through standing water, lightly apply the brakes to dry them. This is particularly important if the vehicle is fitted with drum brakes. - Breakdown
If you have engine trouble, turn on your hazard lights and pull completely off the road. Ensure that you have a reflective triangle that can be placed on the road a sufficient distance behind your car to warn oncoming motorists
“By applying these safety tips, our drivers will have a much safer and less tiring experience,” says Murray Price, managing director at EFM. “It’s important to remain focused, plan carefully and be patient. We wish all our fellow South Africans a safe trip and an enjoyable festive season.”
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