Your guide to enjoying the Easter Weekend safely
Over 300 people died on the roads during the Easter Weekend last year. Here are tips for safe driving and home security over this period.
Whether you’re staying in or travelling, the Easter Weekend is a time residents look forward to, so it’s important to keep yourself, your family and your home safe.
For the 2024 Easter weekend, a total of 335 road fatalities were recorded, compared to 252 for the 2023 Easter weekend, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
For the Easter weekend last year, 236 fatal crashes were recorded compared to 207 for the 2023 Easter weekend.
This is an increase of 32.9% in fatalities and 14.01% in fatal crashes.
Live Traffic NPC released these road safety tips for those taking a trip:
– Vehicle check: Oil, water, tyre pressure, spare tyre, and brakes
– Valid driver’s licence, car registration and insurance
– Route planning (check for road closures/construction)
– Emergency contacts saved (including roadside assistance)
– Cash and fuel cards (some rural areas may not accept cards)
– Water (at least 2L per person)
– Energy-boosting snacks: nuts, biltong, fruit, energy bars
– Cooler box with ice for perishables
– Reusable water bottles to reduce waste
– Thermos with coffee/tea (for long drives)
– Take breaks every two hours: Use rest stops to stretch
– Avoid driving for more than eight hours a day
– Designate a co-driver if possible
– Have a first aid kit (bandages, painkillers, antiseptic)
– Emergency triangle and reflective vest
– Phone charger and power bank
– Flashlight and extra batteries
– A warm blanket (in case of breakdowns at night)
– Check weather forecasts
– Drive cautiously in rural areas: Watch out for potholes and animals on the roads
– Headlights on in low visibility
– Avoid peak travel times
– Report hazards to emergency services
– Obey speed limits.
Rekord reached out to local private security companies for advice on leaving your home unoccupied during Easter.
Pieter van Rensburg of Proshield Security says weekends such as these demonstrate the necessity of investing in home security. Here are his tips:
– Invest in home security.
– Test your alarm system with your service provider and inform them of your departure timeously.
– Avoid social media posts publicising your holiday.
– Inform trusted neighbours to keep an eye out for the extraordinary.
– Properly lock and secure all doors and windows.
– Consider a house sitter, always better to have your house appear occupied if possible.
– Limit storing high-value items and firearms if your house is unoccupied during the holiday.
Kobus Olivier, a tactical and technology manager at CSI Security. says residents should remain vigilant during the weekend and check the rearview mirror of their car to ensure they aren’t being followed.
“Check that your car is locked when you leave your car. If you have a tracker, make sure it is working and park in safe spaces. If you are going to be home, activate your alarms, and outside beams if you’re not outside and make sure your electric fence is working,” he advises.
“Make sure you have a list of emergency numbers on hand to contact in the case of any emergency, if you’re going away on holiday we urge you to contact your service provider to come to test your alarm before you leave and ensure that your security service provider has access to your premises to check it if they need to,” Olivier concludes.
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