WeeklySA_AdminVULNERABLE: Extra vigilance called for female drivers
By Arrive Alive
Women are regarded in the insurance industry as ‘’safer” drivers and less likely to be in a road accident. Even though all motorists need to be alert and cautious, female drivers, unfortunately, have to be even more vigilant in order to avoid falling prey to criminal acts such as hijacking, intimidation, sexual assault or worse.
Our women drivers are still regarded as more vulnerable by most criminals. In this section, we would like to offer advice and a few precautions that could enhance the safety of all drivers – and especially our female drivers!
Drivers should always consider the threats and possible worst case scenarios – and plan to avoid as many of these as possible. Precautions would include the following:
Vehicle Maintenance
A well-maintained car is less likely to break down – Keep your car in good mechanical condition and have it serviced regularly by a reputable garage. Have a safety check done before each long trip. Even better – learn how to change a tyre, jump-start the battery, or change a wiper blade. The more you empower yourself with basic maintenance tips, the fewer chances of you being the damsel in distress.
Never run out of fuel. Get into the habit of filling when the tank’s half empty rather than waiting for the warning light. Get faults diagnosed and fixed promptly rather than waiting for them to get worse or hoping they’ll go away. Check tyre condition and pressure regularly. Get damaged or excessively worn tyres renewed, and don’t forget to check the spare.
Plan Your Trip
Don’t drive after dark into areas you don’t know if you can avoid it. It is easy to get lost and become a target for criminal activity. Drive with a decent GPS for enhanced safety, and tell someone your route, and what time you expect to arrive. Always be ready in the event of a delay on the road -Ensure your cellular phone is fully charged – and invest in a car charger should you not already have one.
Add emergency numbers to your phone – such as that of a motoring assistance company, car insurance company etc.
Safety While Driving
While you drive you can enhance safety by focusing on the following:
• When stopped in traffic, leave enough space to pull out from behind the car you are following.
• Lock all doors and roll up the windows while you drive.
• Be especially cautious when you approach intersections crowded with street vendors, newspaper sellers, beggars and street kids.
• Keep your valuables – laptop, handbag, mobile phone – out of sight. Even though there has been a success in reducing hijackings, theft from vehicles in SA has increased.
• If you suspect that you are being followed, drive on to the nearest police station or busy place to get help.
Noticing that you are followed
• Should you notice a vehicle following you closely, turn into a different road than the one you would normally take, but take note of road signs and landmarks so that you remain aware of your surroundings.
• Drive to the nearest police station – but if it is too far or you don’t know where it is, drive to the nearest fuel station or convenience centre.
• In an emergency, there is indeed strength in numbers!
