Curb the carnage, keep your car roadworthy

With the Easter holidays in a couple of weeks, Dewald Ranft, the chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (Miwa), an affiliate of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation, says the industry body is deeply concerned about the continued loss of lives on our roads, particularly in crashes involving heavy vehicles.

On February 19, a bus transporting American tourists to the Kruger National Park overturned just outside Dullstroom, injuring all 10 passengers. On March 9, nine churchgoers died when a bus overturned in KZN.

On March 11, a CoE bus rolled on the R21, killing 13 people and injuring 45. The next day, 19 learners were hurt when their bus crashed into a truck in Germiston.

The Dullstroom crash was reportedly due to heavy rain and wet road conditions. A burst tyre apparently caused the KZN accident, and while the cause of the R21 accident has yet to be determined, the city hastily clarified that its bus was roadworthy.

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It is alleged the truck involved in the Germiston accident stopped suddenly, and the bus driver couldn’t prevent the collision.
Ranft reiterates the importance of vehicles being roadworthy as a fundamental of safe driving but adds that many other factors contribute to accident prevention.

He acknowledges that SA motorists face a myriad of challenges, like the state of the roads, a lack of law enforcement and corruption in licensing departments, all of which contribute significantly to the high road death toll.

“Because our roads are so unsafe, motorists have a higher responsibility to ensure their safety. Start with a roadworthy vehicle. It lowers the risk of an accident. Regular servicing and maintenance at an accredited workshop gives you peace of mind,” he says.

“Then, there are other things, like using seatbelts, no matter anyone’s age, driver behaviour and planning your route.”

The Miwa advises car owners to regularly check these items:
• Check that all your lights work correctly. Check the headlights (including the bright beam bulbs), the fog lights, the indicators and the brake lights.

• Check for signs of wear or damage, including the handbrake. Check and fix uneven wear, strange noises and vibrations from the braking system as soon as possible.

• Items like an emergency triangle and a tyre kit. Also include a torch, a reflective vest or tape, extra water and a first aid kit.

• Inflate the tyres to the recommended pressure (find this on the inside door panel on the driver’s side or near the fuel tank) and check the tread. SA regulations stipulate that tread depth must be at least 1mm across the tyre’s circumference. Always check the spare tyre, too.

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• Don’t ignore fluid leaks and overheating. If you see a green, orange or yellow liquid under your car, it has a cooling liquid leak.

• Checking the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid levels could help avoid crashes or unnecessary breakdowns. Also, check the brake and power steering fluids. Keep an extra bottle of water in your car for emergencies.

• Wier blades and windscreen – the blades should not squeak, streak or screech. Check the windscreen for cracks because they could impact your visibility.

• Ensure the battery connection points and cables are tightly fastened. Also, check that the battery voltage is still at an optimal level. You might have to change the battery when you see warning signs like dimming lights when idling or clicking when starting the ignition.

• Check all the electronic components, including the air conditioning, radio, GPS and sensors. These systems give information and warnings about your car’s performance, so checking that they work correctly is crucial.

• Licence disc and insurance – are they up to date? Know what your insurance covers.

“Your vehicle needs to be able to handle whatever is thrown at it on the road, as do you, as the driver. Get the above checks done at an accredited workshop, especially before a long road trip like many of us might make over Easter.

“Once you are sure your vehicle is sound, you must do your bit when travelling and drive responsibly, always obeying road signs and never placing others in danger by overtaking irresponsibly.”