In 2024 South Africans travelled more than 2.3 billion kilometres over the Easter weekend. This surge in road usage resulted in a 28% increase in fatal road crashes compared to the previous year.

Also read: Resilient South Africa marks 31 years of freedom

One of the leading causes of road accidents during high-traffic periods is poorly maintained or unroadworthy vehicles. Vehicle faults like brake failures, worn-out tyres, faulty lights, and issues with indicators or wipers can pose serious risks, especially in poor weather or low-light conditions.

“Common vehicle faults such as brake failures and tyre bursts are often preventable,” said Chilton Penery, chief operating officer of Halfway Ford’s Auto Division.

“Over the past two years, since the end of the Covid pandemic, we’ve seen steady growth in the number of vehicle owners booking safety checks – particularly at our Waterfall KZN dealership, which recorded a 65% increase ahead of this Easter holiday.”

Considering that KZN recorded the highest number of fatal car accidents (22%) over Easter last year [3] among all provinces, this rise in vehicle owners taking responsibility for their safety is a welcome change. However, as Penery points out, a car safety check simply identifies gaps in a vehicle’s roadworthiness – it is up to the owner to approve the recommended maintenance to increase their safety while travelling.

“Although we’ve seen a spike in bookings, only 40% of vehicle owners address all diagnostic issues, with approximately 60% opting to fix the essentials to save on costs. Many forgo maintenance they deem less important and postpone it for a later date – presumably when funds become available,” said Penery.

At Halfway Ford, the three most common vehicle maintenance services carried out ahead of the April holidays were oil changes, light bulb replacements, and wiper blade changes. Maintenance that was mostly deferred were tyre replacements and brake pad replacements.

Ahead of any holiday, Penery not only urges vehicle owners to schedule a service or safety check at a reputable workshop but also to actively put aside the funds to ensure that their cars are properly maintained to ensure a safe and stress-free journey.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here