Insurance-compliant road safety tips for the holidays

With the school holidays and long weekend coming up, you might be taking to the road for a little break. Beyond the obvious 10-point vehicle check that you should do before you leave, there are a number of other factors to consider to ensure you're safe on the road (and compliant with your insurance policy, should you need to claim).

1.    Wear your seatbelt

In the event of an accident, whether it is your fault or not and where you need to claim against your personal accident insurance, your claim will be rejected if you or your passengers were not wearing seatbelts. It is against the law to drive without a seatbelt. Young children must also be strapped into a car chair appropriate to their age.

 2.    Stick to the speed limit

Speeding is the third most common cause of road accidents in South Africa. If your car is damaged in an accident and you are found to have been speeding at the time, your insurance claim for damages will be thrown out. South African insurers are increasingly relying on digital data from vehicles to validate claims. If the data tells a different story to the one you have told your insurer, you could be left to foot the bill for your damaged vehicle.

 3.    Don't drink and drive

It sounds obvious to say so, but even one drink in the event of a road accident could land you in hot water - even if the other driver is at fault. Any accident as a result of drunk driving on your part, where you are found to be over the legal limit, will result in your insurance claim being rejected. This will also impact your ability to get vehicle insurance in the future.

 4.    Stay focused

Distractions are the number one cause of vehicle accidents on our roads. Driver fatigue, using mobile phones and talking to other passengers are among the top disturbances that divert drivers' attention away from the road. Take sufficient breaks while driving, at least every 2 hours; don't use your mobile phone for calls or texts; and limit the potential for distraction inside your vehicle.

 5.    Don't overload your vehicle

It's tempting to pack everything and the kitchen sink when going away on holiday - just in case. But overloading vehicles and trailers can cause you to lose control of your vehicle more easily. In the event of an overloaded vehicle, your insurance claim will not be settled. Check the carrying capacity of your car and trailer, and stick to these limits.