Here's how to get your car in roadworthy condition for the holidays
Warmer mornings, longer days and the increasing number of people jogging on the roadside are upon us. Do you know what that means? For many people, it's time to start the road trip countdowns!
This is a season to be happy, and in Discovery Insure's world, happy is arriving safe. So, we've put together driving tips to help you drive well and better react to emergencies on full roads. The first step is getting your car ready for the long road.
1. Get your car checked
The Road Traffic Management Corporation's State of Road Safety Report 2022-2023 Festive, found that 61% of accidents attributable to vehicle factors during the 2022/2023 festive period followed a tyre burst. Faulty brakes were behind 23% of accidents caused by vehicle factors. Discovery Insure clients can complete an Annual MultiPoint check to ensure their vehicles are safe to drive. Visit your nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre or Discovery Drive Centre. Furthermore, as a Vitality Drive member, you'll earn 300 Vitality Drive points that can help you increase your Vitality Drive status, so you can qualify for a higher fuel cash back percentage by completing and passing the check.
2. How you drive matters
While you might not be a pedestrian, how you drive matters as it can determine whether you can react defensively to obstructions and emergencies or not. Speeding, following other vehicles too closely and overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic and across barrier lines came hot over heels of pedestrian jaywalking as the leading cause of accidents caused by human factors in the last festive season.
Here is a handy checklist to help you avoid road accidents, and get rewarded:
Avoid distractions:
Put your cell phone away while driving.
Do not eat and drink while driving.
Stay focused on the road and keep both hands on the steering wheel.
Beware of driving at night:
Remain alert, especially while driving at night.
Keep maintenance and servicing up to date:
Ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy by keeping all servicing appointments.
Vitality Drive clients can earn Vitality Drive points, discounts, and so much more when they complete their Annual MultiPoint check at their nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre or Discovery Drive Centre.
Watch out for road defects and potholes:
Potholes and road defects can cause damage to your vehicle or even result in an accident. If you are in the Johannesburg area and spot any potholes, remember to report them to the Pothole Patrol.
Sharpen your skills with a driving simulator course:
The more you practice defensive driving and how to manage challenges on the road, the better your response times will be.
Learn more about discounted courses at the Discovery Driving Academy here.
Buckle up your children:
Ensure that children are safely strapped into an appropriate car seat. With up to 50% off car seats from Babies R Us and Born Fabulous, you can enjoy even more discounts while keeping your family safe.
Learn more about Discovery Insure's Vitality Drive car seat discount benefit here.
And if anything out of your control happens, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have state-of-the-art safety features when you need them the most with Discovery's Impact Alert. Our Impact Alert can detect when you've been in an accident enabling us to send help immediately.