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Motorsport
Crime on the roads – South
African National Crime Statistics:
- 810785 vehicle thefts over the past 10 years
- 1462105 thefts out of a vehicle over the last 10 years (i.e. Smash and grabs/radio theft)
- 148416 vehicle high-jacking’s over the past ten years.
Looking at the above statistics, vehicle thefts alone averages at 81 078 cars stolen nationally per year. This statistic is enough to scare one into being vigilant all year round and not just holiday season. Just the other night we avoided being high-jacked because we kept our eyes open. You too can take preventative measures against crime directly affecting you by doing the following:
- While driving, constantly check your mirrors for suspicious vehicles that may be following you.
- If someone follows you and is persistent or becomes obscene, write down the license plate number and drive to the nearest police station to report it.
- If you find yourself trapped in your car, honk your horn in quick short bursts, this will draw people’s attention.
- Make sure all your car doors are locked at all times.
- When returning to your car, have your keys ready and be aware of your surroundings. If you have to look in your purse or man bag (we not judging) to find them, this may distract you allowing a criminal an opportunity to catch you off guard.
- When approaching your car, make sure that your car has not been tampered with in any way.
- Try to park your car in a well-lit area, and if possible, avoid parking next to large vehicles, these vehicles can block the view of your car and make it harder to see someone breaking in.
- Do not leave items of value in your car in plain sight.
- Ensure your car is in good working order and that you have enough petrol.
- Make sure you know how to change a flat tire on your own and make minor repairs to your vehicle.
- When parking, reverse into a parking
bay as you can get out faster if necessary.
- If approached by a stranger, lean on the hooter to attract attention or drive away.
- Keep enough distance from the car in front to enable you to change lanes and drive away in a hurry.
- Look around before entering your driveway.
- Don't pick up hitch-hikers.
Helping you through happy hour
safely:
On average, the amount of persons driving under the influence of any substance in South Africa is 57014 per year. A large percentage of automobile accident fatalities involve drivers impaired by
alcohol. Alcohol causes a number of impairments that lead to car accidents from reduced reaction time, coordination and lowered inhibitions, which can cause drivers to make foolish choices to blurred or double vision and/or even loss of consciousness. Drunk driving isn't just a terrible idea, it's a crime. Being behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or higher will probably earn you a trip to jail. If you've been drinking, ask a sober friend for a ride, call a cab or take a tuck-tuck. If you're planning to drink, make sure you have a designated driver. All of the above beats the disastrous consequences of driving drunk.
General safety on our roads:
As an old public service campaign so simply put it, "Speed kills." Be patient, be safe and leave early enough to give yourself time to get to your destination safely. Stay under the speed limit and give yourself enough time to react to other drivers’ mistakes by making sure you keep safe following distances.
The use of cell phones while driving has been banned by the South African government because of the high number of deaths attributed to this seemingly harmless activity, sadly many drivers get away with texting or chatting. If you think that talking and texting while driving isn't a big deal, consider this: working a cell phone behind the wheel can delay reaction times by as much as 20 percent. It isn't just cell phones that cause distractions, however. Eating, applying makeup, fiddling with other electronic devices or interacting with passengers also diverts a driver's attention in potentially deadly ways. Seat belts save lives. When worn properly, they prevent you from
vehicle. Everyone has heard horror stories about people who were killed in bizarre freak accidents in which they would have survived "if only they hadn't been wearing their seat belt". Even if these stories are true, many of them are exaggerations of anomalies or urban legends. In the overwhelming majority of car crashes, you have a greater chance of surviving when wearing a seat belt.
The
flip side of the coin:
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how safely you drive. You'd be driving the speed limit and obeying all traffic rules and someone else can crash into you. One good rule of thumb to use is, "Assume everyone else on the road is an idiot." In other words, be prepared for unpredictable lane changes, sudden stops, unsignaled turns, swerving, tailgating and every other bad driving behavior imaginable. Chances are, you'll eventually encounter someone like this and it pays to be ready when you do. Of course, being prepared requires awareness, so make sure you check your mirrors and keep an eye on
side streets so you'll know which other cars are around you and how they're driving. Don't focus only on the road in front of your car look ahead so you can see what's up the road. Defensive driving incorporates the other tips shown here, such as maintaining a safe distance and not speeding, but remaining calm in the face of frustrating traffic issues is another major part of the concept. Accept small delays, such as staying in line behind a slower car instead of abruptly changing lanes. Yield to other cars even if you have the right of way.
Looking
after your baby:
Vehicle maintenance isn't just an important way to extent your car's life -- it's a major safety issue. One of the most common maintenance problems that can lead to a crash is improper tire pressure. Uneven tire pressure, or pressure that is too high or low, can impact performance or lead to a blowout especially in high-performance cars or heavy vehicles like SUVs. You can buy a cheap pressure gauge and check the pressure against the recommendation in your owner's manual. While you're at it, you might want to rotate your tires to promote even wear and consistent performance. Another key area is the car's brakes. If you notice some "softness" in the brake pedal, or feel a vibration when the brakes are applied, get them checked out by a professional mechanic. The brakes could be wearing out or you could have a problem with the car's hydraulic system.
Taking
the long Road:
Many people will be going away and the officials will be setting up that counter that they do every Easter and December counting how many people pass-away in transit. A huge contributor to the death toll on the long road whether it be Easter or December is driver fatigue. If a driver is tired enough to actually fall asleep while driving, the results are predictable. Even on a relatively straight highway, a sleeping driver will eventually drift off the road. Trees, utility poles and bridges turn this into a deadly scenario and that doesn't even take other cars into account. You might think a few yawns are nothing to worry about, but just being a little drowsy is enough to increase your risk of getting in an accident. Responses can range from dozing off for a few seconds at a time to simply "zoning out" and losing all focus on the road. At highway speeds, one or two seconds of inattention can lead to disaster.
The solution is simple: Get a better night's sleep! Make sure you get a solid eight hours of sleep,
not just on the night before a long drive, but on a regular basis. Failure to get enough sleep every night builds a sleep deficit that can leave you drowsy and unable to focus. If you're driving and feel the least bit groggy, take action immediately. Don't think you'll get any kind of warning before you fall asleep, or that you can fight it off. People can move from drowsy to sound asleep without warning. If this happens to you, have a friend take over behind the wheel, find a rest area where you can catch a few hours of sleep or take a break until you're feeling more alert.
Be safe out there and if you are taking the long road this Easter, have a wonderful and blessed journey.
Many of the above mentioned items are available at either of our IS Motorsport branches, feel free to pay us a visit so that we may see you off safely.
Visit our website for more info www.ismotorsport.co.za
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