Tragically, highway deaths throughout this time are 25–30% larger in December than in different months. Elevated site visitors volumes, fatigue, and seasonal festivities additional enhance the dangers, underscoring the crucial 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 suggestions forward of the vacation season.
1. Test your automobile’s roadworthiness
Conserving your automobile roadworthy will assist scale 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 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 usually want alternative each 75 000km, however some brake pads already should be changed after 25 000km.
2. Guarantee all of your paperwork is updated
Your car licence disc must be renewed every year. Additionally, examine that each one potential drivers to your automobile 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 correct insurance coverage for cross-border journeys
Heading past South Africa’s borders? Test in case your automobile insurance coverage covers journey in neighbouring international locations. Most South African automobile insurance coverage insurance policies present cowl for harm to your personal automobile in neighbouring international locations throughout Southern Africa. Nevertheless, some insurers may restrict how lengthy they cowl your automobile while you’re in another country.
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In some neighbouring international locations, you might be legally required to have third-party insurance coverage. That is to guard you from folks making claims towards you for bodily damage or property harm you might need prompted. Most insurers don’t provide this cowl when you cross the South African border, so, you should definitely purchase this cowl earlier than you go.
4. Cowl your extras
For those who’ve added pricey 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, ensure they’re insured for his or her full worth by taking out single objects insurance coverage or specifying the objects below 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 telephone with the intention to rapidly name for assist when you’ve got an accident or engine hassle. Bare clients can contact them through their app. Evaluate accident protocols, akin to 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 harm, diminished braking effectiveness, and compromised management. Keep on with weight and dimension limits for roof racks and different storage tools.
7. Keep on 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 prepare different transport if wanted, and all the time obey site visitors legal guidelines.
8. Be alert and keep secure
Bare claims stats present that it’s a false impression that crime principally occurs at evening 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 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 residence or the airport through the holidays, use Bare’s CoverPause function 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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