Go 2 December 2021

GO! & EXPRESS 2 December 2021 For all your advertising needs call Cheryl on 082 432 5665 or 043-7022031. Find us on Facebook 13
Keeping safe when on the highways
Avoid being another statistic this Christmas period when the roads are busy with holidaymakers
MATTHEW FIELD
For a lot of South Africans, packing up the
family and driving down to the vacation spot
of their choice is a proud tradition (though
the latest round of fuel price hikes might lead to
some serious rethinking).
However, like its Easter counterpart, the
Christmas period is always accompanied by a
spike in road accidents and fatalities.
For those looking to avoid becoming another
statistic in a depressingly long list, there are a
number of steps that can be taken to ensure yo u r
risk of being in an accident is greatly minimised.
● Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy
According to Arrive Alive, burst tyres were the
largest contributor of fatal crashes in 2011,
causing 54.07% of all crashes that year.
The next biggest contributor was faulty brakes,
which caused 14.98%.
This is backed up by a 2017 report by the
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)
which showed burst tyres causing 56% of all
crashes in that year.
With this in mind, it’s clear that servicing your
car is of the utmost importance before embarking
on a holiday.
● Obey road rules
Unfortunately we all have stories about some
reckless fool who thought the rules did not apply
to them.
Road rules are there for a reason: to keep you,
your fellow drivers and pedestrians safe.
When out on the road, always make sure you
obey them.
Keep within the speed limits, don’t overtake on
double lines, and only pull over when you can see
a good distance ahead of you.
● Remain vigilant
So your car’s in tip-top shape and you follow
the rules to a “T”.
That does not excuse you from not paying
attention to the road as you drive.
This is especially true in the Eastern Cape
where we often find ourselves sharing the road
with all manner of livestock.
Check your mirrors constantly and make sure
to keep an eye out for pedestrians or animals on
the side of the road.
When driving, especially if it’s a particularly
long journey, it is not uncommon to become
fatigued.
If this happens, pull over and let yourself
recuperate for a few minutes.
DRIVE
R E S P O N S I B LY:
Road trips can
be fun, but that's
no reason to
behave
recklessly P i c t u re :
P I X A B AY
● Don’t drink and drive
Drinking severely limits your reaction time and
basic motor skills.
Be smart and leave the booze in the cooler
when you’re setting off on a journey. And if you
insist on having a few during lunch, make sure to
have a designated driver who’s willing to take one
for the team and stay dry for the day.
2.4GD-6
VALUED AT
R405 000!