Beware of pedestrians with nefarious motives
Even with a dashcam, the financial and emotional impact of colliding with a pedestrian cannot be easily undone.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has issued a warning to motorists to be alert on the roads this festive season.
The Fund says a trend is emerging in South Africa where pedestrians are throwing themselves in front of vehicles in a bid to lodge fraudulent claims with the RAF.
Pedestrians wait for a vehicle to pass by slow enough that the impact is not fatal.
“The RAF warns that they will not pay out fraudulent claims or claims that result from purposely involving oneself in a collision,” said CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert.
“While the RAF is dissuading pedestrians from using the organisation as an income source, little is said to motorists about the consequences for them. Mention is made of using dashcam footage to prove an incident was purposefully orchestrated. This, however, is not the ideal solution, and motorists should aim to avoid this eventuality altogether.”
Even with a dashcam, the financial and emotional impact of colliding with a pedestrian cannot be easily undone.
“Defensive driving is your main aid in trying to avoid impact with pedestrians during the holiday period. This latest trend serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of not driving defensively,” said Herbert.
How defensive driving can help avoid pedestrian collisions:
Awareness – always be aware of all cars, obstacles and people surrounding you. Drivers should never be surprised by a pedestrian suddenly stepping into the road, purposefully or otherwise.
Anticipate – normally, the actions of other drivers or people are clear well before they make a move. Anticipate the actions of fellow road users and adjust your driving immediately. Pedestrians with nefarious motives may hide on the roadside, making it necessary to pay extra attention to the shoulder and always be ready to take evasive action.
Do not speed – while these individuals are alleged to wait for vehicles to slow down, speeding reduces the time to respond should something unexpected happen. Additionally, if someone has never driven a vehicle before, it is easy to misjudge the speed of oncoming cars.
Avoid distractions – always stay off your phone, no matter the circumstances. When there may be pedestrians with bad intentions, do not do anything that takes your eyes off the road, and rather get passengers to assist.
Safe following distance – adequate following distances provide both time to spot pedestrians on the roadside and react should they step onto the road.
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