As any South African motorist will attest, negotiating our roads is challenging at the best of times. |
Add to this the more difficult conditions winter presents, and that equals more insurance claims. |
“As the country adjusts to shorter daylight hours, accidents tend to be an inevitable part of driver behaviour,” says Angelo Haggiyannes, director of Auto & General Insurance. |
Although South Africa is not known for raging snow blizzards, the country has experienced extreme winter weather conditions, ranging from flooding, high winds and even snow in some areas. |
This warrants paying extra attention when driving in winter. |
“Historically, July is the worst month for car insurance claims. However, this need not be so. |
By following a few simple rules like switching your lights on earlier in the mornings and evenings as the sun rises and sets later, drivers can avoid becoming a statistic,” adds Haggiyannes. |
Haggiyannes explains that extra vigilance is also necessary when starting your car on chilly mornings. |
“If your car needs to idle when you start it after a night in the cold, make sure you are not vulnerable to the possibility of being robbed or hijacked while you wait.” |
It is a good idea, too, to have a ‘survival kit’ in your car that will prepare you for unforeseen circumstances. |
“Jumper cables, a torch and batteries, a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are non-negotiables when travelling anywhere,” says Haggiyannes. |
Here are some tips from Auto & General Insurance on how to get your car ready for the upcoming chill: |
The lower the temperature, the harder it is for the fuel in your engine to ignite when starting. |
If your car hasn’t had a service in a while, now’s the time to get one. |
With a fresh set of spark plugs and new distributor cap (if required), the chances of your car starting without flooding improves a great deal. |
Before you leave the house on a cold winter morning, make sure to clear any frost from the windscreen with warm, not boiling, water. |
Boiling water may crack your windscreen. |
There is the chance, particularly early in the morning or late at night, that there will be frost on the road. |
So make sure that your tyres have adequate tread and that you leave a safe following distance when driving. |
Tyre pressure constantly goes down from the oxygen molecules leaking through the rubber. |
During winter, tyres lose pressure for every 10 degree drop in temperature. |
So check your tyres more frequently. |
Make sure your cars defroster works. |
It is needed for safe driving. |
Also, make sure the heater is working, but take care, as a too hot interior can lead to drowsiness. |
It is suggested that in winter, you keep your petrol tank more than half full. |
The reason for keeping a full tank of petrol is that warm daytime temperatures fill the empty space in the petrol tank with moisture and condense during the cold night. |
If your petrol tank is not full, this water will sink to the bottom and cause rust. |
Check your engine oil, especially before a long journey. |
Cars use more oil in the winter, so it is advisable to check the oil level more often than you do in the summer. |
Lastly, keep in mind that some car batteries will lose power as the temperature drops. |
So, even though you will you need more power to start your car in winter, you get less power from the same battery. |
By following these simple steps you can ensure that you drive and arrive alive throughout winter! |
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