- South Africa ranks amongst the world’s highest number of road accidents and fatalities each year – play your part in achieving a safer Easter holiday
- Tyre safety is critical, regardless of the vehicle that you drive. Tyre condition, tread depth and pressure are essential items to check on your car, caravan and trailer
- Drive responsibly by taking regular breaks, avoid distractions such as using your cellphone when behind the wheel, and avoid drinking and driving
The Easter holidays in April represent one of the busiest times on South African roads, creating a much higher risk of accidents. Making sure that your vehicle and its tyres are in roadworthy condition is one of the first steps in ensuring a safe and smooth journey.
Tyres are the most important safety component on your car – whether it’s a modern performance vehicle with the latest driver assistance technologies, a workhorse for your business, or an older car that lacks features such as ABS and electronic stability control. As the only point of contact between the car and the road, tyres have a critical role to play in keeping your vehicle safely on the road in all weather conditions.
Planning ahead and responsible driving behaviour are equally crucial, as a lack of patience, recklessness and driver fatigue are major contributing factors in the tragically high accident and death toll in South Africa. Sadly, this country ranks amongst the highest in the world with around 14 000 fatalities recorded each year.
Continental is committed to improving driving safety, firstly by developing and producing cutting-edge tyres that provide exceptional grip and braking performance, especially in wet conditions. The German tyre manufacturer is also involved in numerous initiatives that help create awareness and education amongst motorists to improve road safety.
Here are some Continental road safety tips to make your Easter break safer and more enjoyable:
- Your vehicle’s tyres need to be maintained properly and checked regularly to ensure that they are in good condition without any cuts, cracks, bulges or damage from the countless hazards encountered when driving, including potholes and sharp debris.
- Maintaining the correct tyre pressures is essential, and this should be checked regularly at least every two weeks. Under-inflated tyres can negatively affect the vehicle’s handling, increase fuel consumption and wear, and will eventually overheat leading to premature failure. Over-inflated tyres will result in reduced grip, longer braking distances and significantly increased wear in the centre of the tyre. The tyre pressures must also be adjusted for unladen and laden operating conditions, and should be checked when the tyres are cold.
- Check the condition and pressure of the vehicle’s spare tyre as well. If the vehicle is equipped with a mobility kit instead of a spare tyre, ensure that it is in proper working order.
- If you are towing a caravan or trailer, carefully inspect the condition of the tyres, and adjust the pressures correctly. Trailers and caravans often stand in the sun for long periods with little use, impacting the performance and lifespan of the tyres.
- The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6 mm for tyres with tread wear indicators, or 1 mm for tyres without this feature. If the tread is below the legal limit, it’s time to replace your tyres. Wet handling and braking performance is significantly impacted when the tread depth drops below 3 mm, and is especially dangerous below 1.6 mm, resulting in much longer stopping distances and a significantly higher risk of aquaplaning.
- An all-round technical check-up of your vehicle and trailer or caravan is advised before embarking on your trip. Items to be examined include oil and coolant levels, brakes, battery, lights, windscreen wipers and shock absorbers. You can either do this yourself or visit a vehicle service or fitment centre, such as BestDrive.
- In the rush to reach your holiday destination, many people drive long distances without stopping for a break. This results in fatigue and the increased likelihood of a collision. It is recommended to stop and have a break at least every two hours. If you’re tired, rather stop in a safe location and rest – after all, arriving late is better than not getting there at all.
- Almost half of South Africa’s road accident fatalities involve pedestrians. Accordingly, watch out for people crossing the road, especially at night. Pedestrians are advised to wear bright clothing, ideally with reflective fabric, when walking at night to improve their visibility to other road users.
- If your vehicle breaks down during your journey, pull well off the road into the safest possible location, and place a warning triangle at least 50 metres behind your car to warn other motorists. Changing tyres or working on your car on the roadside verge is extremely dangerous, so exercise caution.
- Poor driving behaviour is a major contributing factor in road accidents. Mobile phone usage when driving has become one of the world’s leading causes of accidents, as it takes your attention and eyes off the road – often with tragic consequences. Avoid drinking when driving, as it severely impacts your vision, awareness and reaction times. Finally, showing a bit of patience and consideration for other road users goes a long way towards a peaceful, enjoyable and safe holiday for you and your family!
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2023, Continental generated sales of €41.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 56 countries and markets.
Tire solutions from the Tires group sector make mobility safer, smarter and more sustainable. Its premium portfolio includes car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tires as well as smart solutions and services for fleets and specialist tire dealers. Continental has stood for innovative excellence for more than 150 years and is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. In fiscal 2023, the Tires group sector generated sales of €14 billion. Continental’s Tires group sector employs more than 56,000 people worldwide and has 20 production plants as well as 16 development locations.
