None of us would like to meet ‘by accident’ on South Africa’s roads. If you are insured, and there are no injuries, minor accidents are more of a nuisance than anything else. Major accidents cannot only cause the loss of your car, but also serious injuries or even fatalities. If we are not insured, besides the above-mentioned risks, we stand to face serious financial consequences. Judging from the foregoing, we must endeavour to minimise the risk of having a car accident.
By listing the following main causes of accidents, we can get an idea of how to minimise risks of having an accident.
HUMAN ERROR IS THE GREATEST CAUSE OF ROAD FATALITIES
A 2016 – 2017 report by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) revealed that human error accounts for 77% of all road fatalities. Fatalities due to poor road conditions make up 16% of fatalities and those due to non-roadworthiness of vehicles, 6%. These facts place the main cause of road fatalities into a correct perspective. Although every road fatality is one too many, we need to realise that, if drivers had taken greater care, the fatalities mentioned could have been reduced considerably.
Let’s take a look at the most important causes of road accidents, which are not in any particular order of importance. In this way, we can get an idea of what to avoid, and thus minimise the risk of having an accident.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
It is illegal to drive when alcohol in your blood exceeds 0.05%. The issue is that drivers forget about their body mass. It is all very well permitting one beer every hour, but, it will have much less effect on a driver weighing 100 kg, compared to one weighing only 70 kg. In addition, some beers have a higher alcohol content than others. If you are going to drive, don’t consume any alcohol, or any other drug for that matter, that will impair your driving ability.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE RECKLESS DRIVERS?
With little law enforcement being the norm on our roads, it makes the ‘chancers’ more and more daring regarding their reckless driving. Overtaking over solid white lines, and general speeding has become the rule of the day. So this risk can be mitigated by increased and continual law enforcement. Hopefully, the AARTO system will be implemented soon.
HOW DOES SPEEDING POSE A RISK?
It easy to understand how, with increased speed, the human brain has less and less time to react to a serious situation on the road. The faster you travel, the greater the impact will be of your car against a particular object on the road. The faster you go, the greater the distance required for you to brake. Protection afforded by airbags and safety belts will be stretched to the limit. Driving defensively, and a little below the speed limit will minimise this risk.
HOW TO AVOID BEING DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING
We tend to forget how much concentration is required while driving. It doesn’t just involve pointing a car straight down a road, but it requires you to interpret any scenario developing in front of you, and work out what’s the best option. But, it is serious and illegal if you are using a cell phone, or worse still, texting a message, while driving. Other driver distractions include studying your GPS, looking for a CD in the cubbyhole, or having noisy passengers. Drivers will have to become disciplined not to take any calls from handheld phones. Maintaining a quiet atmosphere in a car while driving is conducive to improved concentration.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PEDESTRIANS
One often tends to think only of a car crash when referring to a car accident, but pedestrian fatalities occur in high percentages. In a University of Cape Town survey, conducted in 2002, 47% of fatalities were blamed on jay-walking pedestrians. So, next time you drive in a built-up area in a suburb or even on a highway, slow down and be on the lookout for any possible pedestrians shooting out into the road.
BAD ROAD SURFACES
After much rain, cracks in the tarmac surface quickly develop into pot holes, which, in turn, increase in size as more and more vehicles go through them. Hitting a pothole at a speed can prove disastrous. Avoid travelling if you can while it is raining, as potholes, filled with water, may not be so easily detected. Preferably travel during the day, when you can spot pot holes more readily. Good road maintenance could reduce road fatalities by about 5%.
HOW ROADWORTHY ARE YOUR CAR’S TYRES?
Tyres form a critical part of a car’s roadworthiness. Those four rubber patches that touch the road surface are your only contact with mother earth. To avoid any tyre-related accidents such as burst tyres, drivers need to regularly inspect their vehicle’s tyres. This is to ensure they are at the correct tyre pressure for the load they are carrying. In addition, the tyre tread must not be less than the legal limit of 1.6 mm.4
ARE YOUR CAR’S BRAKES ROADWORTHY?
Driving with faulty or worn-out brakes is begging for an accident to happen. The responsibility is on the owner of a car to ensure that the vehicle’s brakes are legally effective at all times.
Before you happen to have an accident because some driver was distracted, make sure you are adequately covered with car insurance. Why not give PMD a call and find out?
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040.The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
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