For many South Africans, the Easter weekend is synonymous with Easter weekend getaways - and that means it’s road trip time! Unfortunately, Easter travel also means there are more cars on the road. It’s essential to take the necessary precautions to ensure you get there safely.
Santam provides four road safety tips to protect both your car and your family over the holidays. These are:
- Check your car’s condition
- Plan your journey
- Drive safely
- Make sure your roadside assistance and insurance are in order
What checks should I make before a road trip?
Long-distance travel requires your car to be in the best possible condition. Here’s what you need to do:
- Tyre maintenance: Check your wheel alignment and balancing. Your tyres should be in good condition, that with the tyre tread is within legal limits and that your tyre pressure is according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Don’t forget to check your spare wheel and that it is in a workable condition.
- Check your vehicle oil and coolant
- Windscreen and wiper check: Ensure your windscreen is free of cracks and stone chips, which can influence your visibility. Your front and rear wipers should be in good working order to clear rain and debris from the glass. Remember to fill up your windscreen wash.
- Book a service: Stick to the service intervals recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer so that you avoid breaking down en route. Get your vehicle serviced before the road trip.
- How’s your paperwork? Getting caught with an expired driver’s licence card or licensing disc is a hassle you can do without on your holiday. Make sure all your paperwork is in order. You can usually renew car licences online if needed.
- Check your emergency kit: Invest in a first-aid kit to help you deal with road trip headaches like motion sickness and cuts. A torch, glow-in-the-dark triangles and plenty of water and wet wipes are always handy to carry with you in the car.
How to plan your Easter weekend travel
Deciding beforehand which routes to take and at which spots to rest will make your drive a less stressful experience - especially if you have little ones in the car! Don’t try to cover too much distance in one day. Tiredness and lack of concentration often lead to accidents.
- Keep an eye on the news, listen to radio reports, and check social media channels such as @TrafficSA or #Traffic. Look out for weather predictions, route updates and traffic alerts.
- Use apps such as Google maps to plan your routes and to see where the most congested areas are.
- Share driving responsibility so you can take turns driving long distances and minimise fatigue.
Driving safety tips
- Driving under the influence of alcohol is the biggest cause of road accidents in South Africa. It's non-negotiable – just like texting or talking on your cellphone while driving.
- Always wear a safety belt and make sure all the passengers in the vehicle do too. If boisterous children are distracting you, stop so they can calm them down. Pack a tablet or play games to keep them entertained.
- Don’t overload your vehicle. It is not worth being the camper with the coolest gear if it makes your car top-heavy and unsafe on the road.
- Look out for road hazards, always expecting the unexpected. Advance driving instructors will always tell you to think and look as far ahead as possible, anticipating what fellow drivers - and pedestrians - might do next.
- Always obey the speed limit and keep a safe following distance.
- Overtake with care. Accidents often happen during overtaking, as drivers misjudge distances and timing.
- Look out for obstructions like potholes or animals, especially in rural areas.
Have SOS and roadside assistance in place
Get peace of mind with roadside assistance. Santam offers a 24/7 Emergency Hotline 0860 505 911, or you can easily access our emergency services through our client app. SOS services are available to all our policyholders at no additional cost. With Santam on call, you can get a tow, a jumpstart, or help changing a tyre.
If you’re planning a road trip, it’s a good time to check that your car insurance is in order. Get affordable car insurance from Santam with an obligation-free instant online car insurance quote.