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Being a safe driver will stand you in good
stead in terms of getting more affordable
car insurance rates. Driving safely
will not only help you avoid traffic fines,
but also keep your car insurance rates down
over time and – most importantly – help you
avoid potentially deadly car accidents.
By being car safety conscious, you’ll
save money on speeding tickets, enjoy
lower car insurance premiums and
contribute to making the roads of South
Africa safer for everyone!
Premium Search, South Africa’s
Insurance Search Engine, is proud to bring
you some car safety tips. By
following these, you will reap the benefits;
in the form of personal safety and
lower car insurance rates!
Drive defensively
Being a defensive driver is critical,
given the traffic situation in most of South
Africa’s big urban areas. Always try to
think for everyone else around you, and try
to anticipate what they may or may not do.
If you are aware of your fellow motorists’
potential actions, you will be able to react
a lot more quickly to avert accidents.
Defensive driving means indicating before
lane changes and intersections. It means
maintaining safe following distances and
sticking to the speed limit. Defensive
drivers don’t weave and change lanes
unnecessarily, nor skip orange traffic
lights. It means slowing down and allowing
more reaction time when it’s raining, and
backing off to give reckless or incompetent
drivers space.
Always stay calm
Keep your emotions in check whenever you get
into a car. By staying calm, you will be
able to make better decisions and not take
unnecessary risks.
Stay focused
People often talk to passengers, adjust the
radio or talk on their cellphones – which is
illegal in South Africa. Minimise your
distractions and focus on driving. Always
pull over if you need to make a phone call,
or buy a hands-free cell phone set. It’s
cheaper than the fine if you’re caught!
Stay safe at all times
Always wear your seat belt – you never know
when an accident will happen! Apart from
being a legal requirement, seat belts are
proven to save lives.
Never allow children to stand on the
seats!
Children should be seated and buckled up at
all times. Babies and toddlers should be
strapped into baby car seats – not held by
their mothers. In the event of an accident,
you will not be strong enough to prevent
your baby from hitting the dashboard. So
don’t take any chances.
Always drive sober
Never drink and drive – it’s not worth the
guilt of killing someone else, and you will
probably end up in jail if convicted. Most
narcotic substances, whether legal or
illegal, have some degree of influence on
how you drive.
Obey the law!
Always obey the law: stick to the speed
limit, obey road signs and listen to traffic
officers if they instruct you to do
something. By doing this and following these
car safety tips, you can help prevent
car accidents and keep your car insurance
rates as low as possible!
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