Those fortunate few of us who have not experienced a car hijacking, can only imagine the horror of such an event. So, how can South African motorists be vigilant, and what do you need to know about hijackings? Read on to find out more.1
What do the facts say?
- What are the hijacking statistics for South Africa?
After a quiet period during 2011/2012, car hijackings increased all over South Africa, reaching a staggering 16 026 reported cases for the 2018/2019 reporting period1.
- Which of our 9 provinces report the most hijackings?
Over the period 2018/2019, most hijackings occurred in Gauteng (7 776), followed by KZN (2 764) and the Western Cape (2 294). Yet, Nyanga in the Western Cape had the worst reported incidents at 2731.
- Where are hijackings the most frequent?
It was reported that remote areas suffered 445 cases, national highways 110 and suburbs 97. Inter-city hijackings saw a higher figure of 1534 and townships 15 0981.
- What is the primary modus operandi used by criminals?
Hijackers often threaten motorists with firearms and then steal the car. Hijackers also use various violent methods to force motorists to abandon their vehicles1.
- What methods are criminals are likely to use?
Since hijackers cannot take control of a moving car, they may use the following methods to force you to stop –
- They can smash your side window or another part of your car, force you off the road, or make you stop with their car.1
- They can arrange for a false ‘stop-and-go’ on the road or put large rocks in the way to force you to stop.1
- Beware of people pretending to be people asking motorists for money, wanting to wash your car’s windscreen at intersections or hitchhikers.1
- Some even try to make you stop to help a ‘victim’ lying on the road. The worst of all is when hijackers pose as police officers in uniform.1
Safety tips you can follow
There are some general safety tips that we have all heard before and are worth repeating –
- Never stop to pick up any stranger or hitchhiker.1
- Unless you have an emergency, refuse to stop on the side of the road.1
- Ensure your car is in good condition because you can’t afford to break down anywhere.1
- Regularly monitor your tyres to ensure they are in good condition.1
In addition, you can start implementing these further tips in your daily driving routines –
- Inform others about your travel plans
Plan your route carefully and independently of GPS, as the latter can advise you to take the shortest route through a dangerous area. Always inform your friends or loved ones of all your travel details.1
- Is anyone following you?
If you see in the rear-view mirror that someone is following you, immediately drive to the nearest police station or shopping mall. Make a habit of parking in a well-lit area with security guards preferably present. 1
- Approach traffic lights slowly
Especially at night, drive slowly towards red traffic lights so that they will turn green by the time you get there. In this way, your car is always moving.
You may be most vulnerable when your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road. PMD’s Comprehensive cover includes hijacking cover, 24-hour roadside assistance and towing service as standard benefits for your peace of mind*. Why not contact them and learn more about their affordable car insurance that also comes with unique benefits, such as fixed premiums* and an excess that reduces to zero*?
* T’s and C’s apply.
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. 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.