Do you know how many bridges you drive under on your daily route? Do you know how many times you are potentially at risk of a rock throwing incident? Do you pay attention and take note of any loiterers standing on top of each bridge, that may be prowling for their next target?
Criminals who throw rocks off bridges have left motorists feeling nervous and powerless every time we hit the highway to travel to work and school, and especially at night when travelling with family and friends.
Rock throwing incidents have been reported near Durban, Ballito, Durban North and other towns and surrounds on the M4 North, M4 South, N3, the N2 North and N2 South.
But while motorists have no way to predict exactly when or where the next rock thrower might hurl a potentially deadly projectile, it’s vital to be vigilant and to know exactly what steps to take if your vehicle is ever hit by a rock. Blue Security community and media liaison Andreas Mathios provided the following safety and emergency tips for motorists in light of the recent spike in rock throwing incidents on local highways.
1. When approaching hot spot areas like overpasses, steep ridged embankments or bridges be visually aware of people loitering or skulking in the bushes or on the bridge you are driving towards. If you have passengers travelling with you ask them to be on the lookout for any movement of people on the bridge.
2. If you suspect someone is about to throw a rock at your vehicle, reduce speed and safely change lanes, but be aware of traffic driving behind you so that you don’t cause an accident because you braked on the highway.
3. If you are able to do so, drive a short distance away from the bridge before stopping, to avoid being hijacked or robbed at the side of the road by organised criminals or opportunists.
4. If you can’t drive your car due to serious injury to yourself, turn on the hazards and reduce your speed but don’t stop while you do a visual assessment of your injuries.
5. If you become a target but survive the incident, it’s important to know how to send a GPS message to a family member and how to record a voice note. Only call the police once you have communicated this vital information to your family.
6. To send a GPS message open up Google Maps or another GPS system on your mobile phone and touch the screen on your location. A window will open asking you if you want to share your location via email, WhatsApp and other messaging apps. Share your GPS location with a friend or family member via your chosen app. It’s advisable to practice this at home so if you are ever in an emergency situation you will be able to communicate your location seamlessly.
7. The reason why it’s important to send your GPS information first and record a voice note before calling the police, is because you will be traumatised and this will help you to get a grip on the situation. It will also enable family to get an ambulance to your location more quickly if necessary.
8. Call the Blue Security control centre on (031) 717 5000 or press the panic button on the Blue Security Mobile App on your cellphone and one of our controllers will call you. Playback the voice note and relay your location to the controller and give an exact description of the make, model and colour of your car, the direction that you are driving, and advise that your hazards are on. He is trained to help you stay calm and will guide you through the situation and send emergency assistance and an ambulance, if necessary, to your location.
If at all possible avoid travelling on roads known for rock throwing, especially when it is dark in the early morning or at night, unless you really have to be on the road at these times.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
