Long weekend road trip? Here are smart tips to ensure your safety

Cape Town - With many South Africans looking forward to possibly making the Heritage Day time off into a long weekend, road trip planning is likely already underway. The downside is that long weekends also involve more tyres on the tarmac, a greater likelihood of increased alcohol consumption and a rise in reckless driving. But with careful preparation, ongoing vigilance and awareness, you can enjoy the long weekend responsibly.

This is according to Marius Kemp, Head of Personal Underwriting at South Africa’s largest short-term insurer Santam, who says that the latest report by the Road Traffic Management Corporation found that in South Africa, the number of road crash fatalities has declined over the last five years. However, with 2023 seeing over 10 100 fatal crashes that resulted in 11 883 fatalities, he says that South Africa still has a long way to go on the journey towards creating safer roads. Interestingly, 60% of these fatal crashes happened on weekends and many of these are preventable.

Prep your ride

Another major cause of road accidents that has become more prevalent over the last two years is the poor state of many South African roads. This means drivers need to take further caution against speeding or drunk driving, because on unfamiliar roads, you simply don’t know what lies beyond the next corner. Doing safety and roadworthy checks on your vehicle before heading out on a roadtrip is therefore even more important.

“Key safety checks include verifying that your tyres are properly inflated and have sufficient tread, as worn-out tyres are more susceptible to damage from potholes. Brake functionality should also be tested to ensure quick and effective stopping power, especially when driving on uneven or slippery surfaces,” says Kemp.

Additionally, check that your window wipers, headlights and indicators are working correctly, as non-functioning lights can be dangerous when streetlights are out, or road markings are faded. Lastly, inspect your suspension system to handle the bumps and dips caused by uneven roads, and always make sure you have a fully equipped spare tyre and the necessary tools in case of emergencies.

Check-in on your insurance cover

Once your plans are made, your physical and mental health are in check, and your vehicle is good-to-go, the next important step is to do an insurance check-in.

“Read through your insurance policy to make sure you understand what you’re covered for, whether there are any terms and conditions you need to be aware of and if there are any value-added services that may be available to you. A good insurer should make services available to clients like free legal advice, telephonic route assistance and emergency accommodation,” adds Kemp.

Remember, regardless of which insurer you use, car insurance will not cover any event damage resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or reckless behaviour.

Curb your need for speed

Elaborating on the top causes of serious car accidents, Kemp says that speeding remains the biggest culprit. Putting figures to this reality, road safety awareness initiative, Arrive Alive found that with a reaction time of one second, the average driver will travel 90m before being able to come to a complete stop, when driving at a speed of 110km/h. This delay increases significantly when the surface of the road is wet.

“There are several simple but effective ways in which you can avoid speeding over the long weekend. You could start with leaving early and giving yourself plenty of time to reach your destination and enjoy the ride.

As you drive, pay attention to speed warnings on your GPS system as well as road signs – especially those that indicate upcoming hazards. It’s also useful to plan your route beforehand to familiarise yourself with the roads you need to take as well as any residential areas, school zones or construction sites along the way,” says Kemp.

Ditch that drink

The Heritage Day weekend may call for some much-needed celebration, but driving under the influence of alcohol is a definite no-go.

Kemp advises that the risk of drinking any alcoholic beverage before driving, regardless of the alcohol content, is not one worth taking. “Rather than taking the risk, why not delay your gratification until you’ve reached your end destination and can consume alcohol safely and in a relaxed setting?

If you’ve already consumed alcohol, call a cab service or arrange for a lift home. Depending on your insurer, you may even have access to an SOS service that can help you out. For example, Santam’s policyholders can use our drive-home service, which can be booked in advance. No journey is worth risking your safety or the safety of others,” he adds.

“Apart from the benefits of putting safety measures in place for the good of yourself and your fellow motorists, there’s the added benefit of knowing that no matter what happens, nothing will get in the way of a seamless claims process should anything go wrong. A memorable long weekend is even better when you have absolute peace of mind,” says Kemp.