Drive to live this Easter
THE Easter holidays are almost upon us and many South Africans will be hitting the roads eager to get to their holiday destinations.
“If you’re planning to travel over the Easter weekend, you need to take extra care due to the higher volumes of traffic expected during this period. This means not only driving more cautiously, but also making sure that your vehicle is in excellent condition as so many accidents happen because of cars not being roadworthy,” Head of Auto & General Brokers Tania Joffe says.
Auto & General offers the following advice for motorists:
ý Speeding: Speeding significantly impairs your ability to steer safely around corners and objects in the road and drastically reduces the time you have available to react to a dangerous situation, therefore increasing your chances of crashing. Statistics from Arrive Alive show that a 10% decrease in speed reduces fatal crashes by 40%.
ý Overtaking: Do not overtake on a solid line. When overtaking is allowed, make double sure that you have a clear view of oncoming traffic first. Avoid overtaking multiple vehicles in one go.
ý Drunk driving: If you are found guilty of drunk driving you could face up to six years in jail or fined to R120 000. Your driver’s licence could also be suspended. Apart from having a criminal record you could kill somebody or yourself. The legal blood alcohol limit is less than 0.05g per 100ml and the legal breath alcohol limit is less than 0.24mg in 1000ml of breath.
ý Fatigue: Motorists should get at least seven hours sleep before a long-distance trip. If you feel tired stop and rest.
ý Car Maintenance: Many accidents on South Africa’s roads are the result of vehicle un-roadworthiness and vehicle component failure. Many motorists also find themselves stranded on the roadside at the mercy of potential criminals thanks to vehicle failure. No matter how you look at it, driving a car that is not properly maintained and fit for the road is dicing with your safety.
“Remember that just because you abide by the rules of the road, doesn’t mean other drivers do too. Always be alert and practice defensive driving techniques,” Joffe said.