Tragically, street deaths throughout this time are 25–30% increased in December than in different months. Elevated visitors volumes, fatigue, and seasonal festivities additional enhance the dangers, underscoring the important significance of secure driving and correct automobile upkeep.
To assist guarantee a safer festive season, Ernest North, co-founder of digital insurance coverage platform Bare, shares important automobile upkeep and secure journey ideas forward of the vacation season.
1. Examine your automobile’s roadworthiness
Retaining your automobile roadworthy will assist cut back your possibilities of being in an accident and guarantee a smoother claims expertise. Right here are some things that it is best to examine:
- Tyres: Go to a fitment centre to examine your tyre tread depth. It’s best to rotate your tyres each 10 000–12 000km to make sure that your automobile doesn’t pull to at least one aspect.
- Lights and indicators: Take a look at all indicators, brake lights, reverse lights, and headlights.
- Brakes: Get your brake pads checked in the event that they haven’t been changed shortly. Brake pads sometimes want substitute each 75 000km, however some brake pads already have to be changed after 25 000km.
2. Guarantee all of your paperwork is updated
Your car licence disc must be renewed yearly. Additionally, examine that every one potential drivers on your automobile have up-to-date driving licences. The licence must be renewed each 5 years, which incorporates a watch check.
3. Get the appropriate insurance coverage for cross-border journeys
Heading past South Africa’s borders? Examine in case your automobile insurance coverage covers journey in neighbouring nations. Most South African automobile insurance coverage insurance policies present cowl for injury to your individual automobile in neighbouring nations throughout Southern Africa. Nevertheless, some insurers would possibly restrict how lengthy they cowl your automobile once you’re overseas.
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In some neighbouring nations, you might be legally required to have third-party insurance coverage. That is to guard you from folks making claims in opposition to you for bodily harm or property injury you may need brought on. Most insurers don’t supply this cowl when you cross the South African border, so, you’ll want to purchase this cowl earlier than you go.
4. Cowl your extras
In case you’ve added expensive equipment like roof racks, bullbars, or sound techniques, replace your insurance coverage coverage to incorporate them.
Equally, in case you are travelling with costly objects like golf golf equipment, laptops, or jewelry, be certain they’re insured for his or her full worth by taking out single objects insurance coverage or specifying the objects underneath your house contents insurance coverage to make sure full protection whereas travelling.
5. Be ready and plan for emergencies
Save your insurer’s roadside emergency quantity in your cellphone so to rapidly name for assist you probably have an accident or engine bother. Bare clients can contact them through their app. Evaluation accident protocols, reminiscent of this information of dos and don’ts on the scene of an accident.
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6. By no means overload your car
Exceeding your car’s load limits can result in tyre injury, decreased braking effectiveness, and compromised management. Persist with weight and dimension limits for roof racks and different storage tools.
7. Persist with secure driving habits
Keep rested and have a very good evening’s sleep earlier than a protracted journey. Take breaks or swap drivers on lengthy journeys to forestall fatigue. Whereas it’s the season to be jolly, by no means drink and drive. Plan forward and organize different transport if wanted, and all the time obey visitors legal guidelines.
8. Be alert and keep secure
Bare claims stats present that it’s a false impression that crime largely occurs at evening and that we truly see a spike at noon. So, bear in mind to stay alert and conscious even whereas on vacation. All the time attempt to park in safe, well-lit areas, and, double-check that your automobile is locked earlier than strolling away.
9. Pause your automobile insurance coverage for non-driving days
In case your automobile will keep parked at house or the airport through the holidays, use Bare’s CoverPause characteristic to pause accident cowl for non-driving days, saving you as much as 50% on premiums whereas remaining protected in opposition to theft, hearth, and pure disasters.
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