Safe travels this silly season

Silly season is here, bringing with it plentiful revelry and annual pilgrimages to the country’s coastal hotspots. Along with increased traffic volumes and widespread frivolity comes the customary spate of accidents that has blighted South Africa over the past few decades.
 
According to 2017/18 crime statistics, DUI cases went up by 14.8% on a total of 86 160 recorded in 2016/17.[i] In a bid to clamp down on drunken driving, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is looking to enforce harsher punishment for traffic offenders ahead of the upcoming festive season, aiming to reclassify drunk driving as a schedule 5 offense, on par with rape, murder and theft. 
 
This could see offenders imprisoned for up to 9 years in cases where they have caused severe injury or death, and up to 2 years for driving under the influence. Depending on the circumstances, the driver could be found guilty of culpable homicide with a sentence of up to 15 years.
 
As such, it is more important than ever to exercise caution on the roads this holiday season, as not only could your reckless behaviour endanger yourself and others, but it could also see you serving a lengthy stint behind bars.
 
So before the festive season hits its stride, here are a few key pointers to bear in mind to ensure you remain on track for a safe and hassle-free holiday:
 
Keep the distractions to a minimum

It only takes a momentary lapse in concentration to cause an accident, so to better your chances of arriving safely at your summer holiday destination, you would be well advised to steer clear of potential distractions. Keep your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ or ‘Drive’ mode should you not have a hands-free kit and steer clear of snacks during your journey, as these can distract you from the road ahead. Earphones are also a no-go when it comes to driving, as they drown out ambient sound, meaning you might miss warnings from your fellow drivers. Lastly, you will want to make sure the things you need for your journey – think toll change or necessary identification – are easily accessible to you before departure, so you can avoid unnecessary rummaging that will require you to relinquish your attention to the road. 
 
Plan to succeed

Nothing ruins a holiday quite like a breakdown or tyre blowout, so you will want to give your vehicle a thorough inspection at an authorised dealership before heading off. While you are at it, make sure to check your oil, water and tyre pressure to ensure your car is performing at its peak ahead of your journey. 
 
It is also important to plan ahead if you are looking to head out and enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two this holiday. While it might be tempting to tackle the quiet roads of a holiday town without the same consideration you would in the busy city, remember that most accidents happen close to home, and with increased police presence and heftier punishment now being handed out to drunken drivers, you would be far better advised to pre-arrange a taxi service or simply not drink at all. 
 
Stay in touch

While cellphones should not be used while driving, they can mean the difference between life and death in the event of an emergency. So make sure yours is adequately charged for your journey so that you are able to reach someone should things go wrong. Tracking devices can also prove to be lifesavers, particularly in cases where you are unable to call for help yourself. Thanks to installed impact sensors, these devices can automatically alert your insurer as to your whereabouts, thus ensuring that assistance is sent as quickly as possible. 
 
Buckle up

It might seem like an obvious suggestion, but the importance of wearing a seatbelt can never be underestimated. Not only should the driver and passenger be suitably strapped in, but it is equally important to ensure that kids and others in the backseat are suitably buckled up so as to improve everyone’s chances in the event of disaster.
 
Rest

Long journeys can take their toll on a driver and while it might be tempting to push through and start your holiday as early as possible, it is far more important that you reach your destination in one piece. Should you feel your eyes starting to droop, look out for the nearest petrol station or another safe space and allow yourself 20 minutes or half an hour to close your eyes and recuperate before continuing on your journey.
 
Remember, the roads can be extremely dangerous over the festive season and while it is impossible to completely prevent any chance of an accident, you owe it to yourself and your family to give yourself the very best chance of getting to and from your destination unscathed. 
 
[By: Nthabiseng Moloi, MiWay Head of Marketing & Brand. MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no: 33970).]
 

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