10 Tips For Staying Safe On The Road This Holiday Season
It’s been a long year, and many South Africans are looking forward to taking a break this holiday season. For some this means heading to the coast for some sun, sea, and sand, while others are immersing themselves in the wild for a bush break. Perhaps you are even just travelling home to spend some time with family and loved ones. Regardless of your destination, you’ll find yourself on the roads at some point, which is why we’ve put together some tips for you to ensure safe driving and road safety this holiday season.
1. Planning ahead
You know where you’re headed, but are you sure you know the best way to get there? Plan your route ahead of your drive by using a GPS to avoid delays and stay on course, especially if it’s an unfamiliar destination. Be sure to also check road conditions and potential traffic hotspots.
2. Have your vehicle checked
Even though your car services might be up to date, it is vital to do a pre-trip inspection to ensure safe travels. You should be checking:
- Tyre pressure
- Fluid levels
- Brakes
- Lights
- Emergency triangle
- Wipers
- Battery
Matrix can also be a great asset in the event of breakdowns or medical emergencies. The Roadside and Medical Assist feature gets you the help you need when you need it most.
3. Practice safe driving
When everyone practices safe driving the risk of accidents is greatly reduced. Safe driving tips include practicing defensive driving, keeping a safe following distance, always indicating your intentions, being cautious in adverse weather conditions, and avoiding distractions like mobile phones.
4. Follow the rules
South Africa has one of the highest accident rates in the world, with many resulting in fatalities, especially during peak holiday seasons when road traffic surges. This makes it more important than ever to follow traffic laws, stick to speed limits, and stay alert to your surroundings—whether it’s watching for pedestrians or for animals in rural or high-density areas. Equally essential is knowing what steps to take if you’re involved in an accident. By staying cautious and prepared, we can help make the roads safer for everyone.
5. Be prepared
Having an emergency first aid kit in your car can be very useful if the unexpected happens. Be sure to check yours regularly to ensure that perishable items are still within their expiry date, and that you have all the sundries you might need. Keeping your car prepared for emergencies is also important and this includes having a spare tyre and basic tools. A Matrix Tracking device adds another layer of peace of mind, especially in high-risk areas where you may feel vulnerable. With Matrix Panic Alert, a remote sends a silent distress signal to the 24/7 Response Centre, which immediately takes action to prioritise your safety.
6. Don’t drink and drive
We’ve all heard this a million times, and yet it remains one of the leading causes of road accidents and deaths. Alcohol impairs your judgement as well as your reaction time, so if you’re going to be consuming alcohol away from home, make sure you have a designated driver who will stay sober to drive you. If you don’t have a designated driver, use an e-hailing service like Uber or Bolt. When you have a Matrix Vehicle Tracking solution, you can rely on our Home Drive functionality to get you and your vehicle home safely.
7. Wear your seatbelt
Shockingly, studies have shown that in South Africa nearly 50% of front-seat drivers and passengers and an alarming 92% of rear-seat passengers don’t wear their seatbelts. Wearing your seatbelt prevents you from being ejected from the car or going through the windscreen in the event of a collision. Seatbelts save lives, literally.
8. Avoid driving at night
Whenever possible, avoid driving at night because the risk of accidents is substantially increased after dark. These risks include:
- Decreased visibility, depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision.
- Road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and bikers aren’t clearly visible.
- An increased number of young, inexperienced drivers drive at night.
- Drivers are often fatigued by the end of the day.
- The risk of crime is increased at night.
9. Don’t overload your vehicle
Overloading your vehicle compromises safety as every vehicle has a specified weight limit. When this limit is exceeded, it puts excessive strain on the suspension, brakes, tyres and other components, reducing the vehicle’s ability to perform optimally.
10. Save emergency numbers
Whether you’re travelling or not, it is wise to have all necessary emergency numbers saved in your phone in case something happens to you. These numbers should include a friend or relative that emergency services can contact (tip: save it as ICE: person’s name), your tracking company and insurance companies numbers, and police and ambulance services numbers.
Road Safety Over The Holiday Season
Road safety over the holiday season is everyone’s responsibility, and doing your part will go a long way in helping reduce fatalities. Remember that our Matrix Vehicle Tracking systems can assist in keeping you and your loved ones safe at any time of day or night, meaning you can travel to that long-awaited break with peace of mind knowing that you have Matrix right by your side.
