Civil rights organisation AfriForum has warned motorists to be careful of spiking incidents this festive season and when travelling back home from their holiday destinations. 

The organisation says it has been monitoring incidents where spikes or stones are used on roads to target motorists for some time now. 

“The AfriForum neighbourhood watches also focused on combating the incidents and assisting victims. This year, there have been several cases where spikes and other methods have been used to force motorists to stop their vehicles on public roads, after which they have been robbed,” AfriForum said in a media statement. 

Several incidents took place on national roads such as the N1, N12, N14, N4, R566 and R80 in the vicinity of Pretoria. However, this type of crime is not only limited to this area and road users must be prepared in general in order not to become victims.

“The criminals who commit these acts are doing it every day of the week. Although criminals can attack motorists at any time of the day, information indicates that incidents are more likely to take place in the evening and continue late into the night. The perpetrators work in groups ranging from two to 10 individuals, and criminals are armed with anything from sharp objects to handguns,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s spokesperson on community safety.

Broodryk says criminals use various techniques to force vehicles to stop, from spikes placed on the road to stones blocking the road. For example, offenders committing crimes along the R80/R566 Rosslyn exit have used objects (not necessarily spikes) to block the highway, forcing vehicles to stop to remove the obstruction. 

Another method involves throwing stones at vehicles, hoping that motorists lose control of their vehicles and cause an accident.

AfriForum encourages motorists who drive on these routes to be vigilant and asks that incidents be reported to the police and the nearest AfriForum neighbourhood watch.

Keep the following tips in mind: 

• Under no circumstances must the car be stopped after an incident in which the vehicle’s tyres, windscreen or other parts have been damaged. Continue driving as far as possible to a safe destination.
• Contact your local neighbourhood watch, security company or emergency services as soon as possible and inform them of the incident. Provide full details of the object used in the trap and its address or location. This will prevent attacks on motorists who may be targeted after you in the same way.
• Make sure your mobile phone is charged before you hit the road.
• Share your location with loved ones, especially when travelling alone.
• Be prepared and get into the habit of looking ahead on the road to spot any threats, foreign objects or people on or along the road.
• Save the contact numbers of the emergency services, neighbourhood watch or security company on your phone.