The funny thing about driver behaviour is that we all think we are excellent drivers and everyone else isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a strange way of thinking that because other drivers are breaking the road rules, we can to.<\/p>
\u201cIt\u2019s time we brought order back to our roads and this needs to start with each one of us looking into how we can improve our behaviour while driving,\u201d said Dewald Ranft, chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), an affiliate association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).<\/p>\n
South Africa has an exceptionally high mortality rate on the roads.<\/p>
Driving responsibly also goes a long way to extending the life of your vehicle and its parts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarsh breaking, rapid accelerating and so on all contribute to the wear and tear on essential parts of your vehicle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
So where do we start?<\/p>\n
Ranft believes sticking to speed limits and keeping a good following distance are two easy ways to make a difference.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Car coolant needs to be checked once a year \u2013 here\u2019s why\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n Tyre tips that everyone can use<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSpeed kills. While it may sound cliched, it\u2019s the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cBy speeding and driving too close to other vehicles we greatly increase the chances of an accident.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeed limits and following distances have been worked out based on human response times, breaking systems in vehicles and other factors.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s respect the science more,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He added that just because others are speeding, it doesn\u2019t mean you have to.<\/p>\n Here are five more tips to improve driver behaviour:<\/p>\n Lastly, he said it\u2019s so important to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, many drivers knowingly put their lives at risk by getting behind the wheel of a vehicle even when they know there is a problem with the car,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He pointed out that it is a legal requirement in South Africa that all cars must be in a roadworthy condition.<\/p>\n \u201cTaxis and buses must undergo a roadworthy test every year and a roadworthy certificate must be presented before a new car can be registered,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The fact that roadworthy certificates are only presented for cars on change of ownership means that for many drivers, roadworthiness might not be top of mind.<\/p>\n \u201cPeriodic roadworthy testing is not compulsory in South Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, driving a car that is not roadworthy is not only risky on the roads, it\u2019s also risky when it comes to your finances.<\/p>\n \u201cMost car insurance claims will not be paid out if it is found that the vehicle involved in the accident was not in a roadworthy condition,\u201d said Ranft.<\/p>\n The onus is on you to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive so it\u2019s important to regularly service and maintain the vehicle and request a full safety inspection from qualified mechanics and technicians preferably from an accredited-MIWA workshop.<\/p>\n Regular maintenance will ensure that the shock absorbers are in good condition, that the braking system is working properly and that all the vehicle\u2019s safety technologies, such as ABS and airbags, are in working order.<\/p>\n \u201cAs South Africans, it\u2019s time that we all pull together to help improve our daily lives.<\/p>\n \u201cBe a responsible citizen on our roads.<\/p>\n \u201cStop pointing fingers at other drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cMake the decision to improve your driver behaviour despite what others do.<\/p>\n \u201cWho knows, we may just start a trend and reduce our devastatingly high road death numbers,\u201d said Ranft.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n