Tragically, highway deaths throughout this time are 25–30% greater in December than in different months. Elevated visitors volumes, fatigue, and seasonal festivities additional improve the dangers, underscoring the important significance of protected driving and correct automotive upkeep.
To assist guarantee a safer festive season, Ernest North, co-founder of digital insurance coverage platform Bare, shares important automotive upkeep and protected journey suggestions forward of the vacation season.
1. Examine your automotive’s roadworthiness
Holding your automotive roadworthy will assist cut back your possibilities of being in an accident and guarantee a smoother claims expertise. Right here are some things that you need to verify:
- Tyres: Go to a fitment centre to verify your tyre tread depth. You must rotate your tyres each 10 000–12 000km to make sure that your automotive doesn’t pull to 1 facet.
- Lights and indicators: Check 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 should be changed after 25 000km.
2. Guarantee all of your paperwork is updated
Your automobile licence disc must be renewed yearly. Additionally, verify that every one potential drivers on your automotive have up-to-date driving licences. The licence must be renewed each 5 years, which incorporates a watch take a look at.
3. Get the proper insurance coverage for cross-border journeys
Heading past South Africa’s borders? Examine in case your automotive insurance coverage covers journey in neighbouring international locations. Most South African automotive insurance coverage insurance policies present cowl for injury to your individual automotive in neighbouring international locations throughout Southern Africa. Nonetheless, some insurers may restrict how lengthy they cowl your automotive once you’re in another country.
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In some neighbouring international locations, you’re legally required to have third-party insurance coverage. That is to guard you from individuals making claims towards you for bodily harm or property injury you may need triggered. 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
For those who’ve added expensive equipment like roof racks, bullbars, or sound programs, replace your insurance coverage coverage to incorporate them.
Equally, if you’re travelling with costly gadgets like golf golf equipment, laptops, or jewelry, ensure they’re insured for his or her full worth by taking out single gadgets insurance coverage or specifying the gadgets beneath your own home 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 as a way to shortly name for assist in case you have an accident or engine hassle. Bare prospects can contact them through their app. Assessment accident protocols, corresponding to this information of dos and don’ts on the scene of an accident.
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6. By no means overload your automobile
Exceeding your automobile’s load limits can result in tyre injury, decreased braking effectiveness, and compromised management. Stick with weight and measurement limits for roof racks and different storage gear.
7. Stick with protected driving habits
Keep rested and have a superb night time’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 prepare different transport if wanted, and all the time obey visitors legal guidelines.
8. Be alert and keep protected
Bare claims stats present that it’s a false impression that crime principally occurs at night time and that we really see a spike at noon. So, keep in mind to stay alert and conscious even whereas on vacation. At all times attempt to park in safe, well-lit areas, and, double-check that your automotive is locked earlier than strolling away.
9. Pause your automotive insurance coverage for non-driving days
In case your automotive will keep parked at dwelling or the airport throughout 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 towards theft, fireplace, and pure disasters.
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