CHAPTER 10:

Much like having a best friend, owning a car is a fun experience generally speaking. Alas, things can go wrong. You and your friend can have an argument. With your car, things can easily be as traumatic: you can break down and end up stranded on the side of the road. You can have an accident. Or your car could be hijacked or get stolen. But follow our trusty survival guide and you stand a good chance of avoiding those motoring nightmares.

SOS

Scenario number one: The breakdown Weve all heard horror stories about people breaking down and it always happens in the dead of night on a quiet road. In reality, a breakdown isnt normally that traumatic; there is often a knight in shining armour to lend a helping hand (or, failing that romantic prospect, an auto club). But its still a stressful affair so there are a couple of steps that you can take to prevent this happening in the first place. The first is keeping your vehicle in tip-top running condition. Your

owners manual will stipulate precisely how often your car needs to be serviced. Dont ignore these guidelines; cars are like relationships they need attention. You must adhere to those service intervals anyway, because if you fail to do so, your cars warranty may not cover any subsequent repairs. Secondly, get to know your car and especially those pesky lights on the dashboard. If they do light up, you need to know what they stand for. Once again, all this information will be in your owners manual. So read it!

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Two of the major causes of breakdowns are fuel (a lack thereof) and a burst tyre.

Two of the major causes of breakdowns are fuel (a lack thereof) and a burst tyre. Never ever allow your fuel to run to below a quarter tank. And always ensure that your tyres are in good condition and properly inflated. Wear and tear are the main culprits behind flat tyres and blowouts. When you fill up with fuel get into the habit of checking your tyre pressure and tread at the same time, and look to see if there is anything, such as a nail or piece of glass, which is sticking in the tread but hasnt punctured the tyre yet, Green Flag, a British provider of breakdown cover, advises. Oh and dont forget to check the spare! Check the oil and tyre pressures on your car every time you refuel. Wash your car yourself once a month and, while youre at it, do a visual check on the general condition of your tyres and lights. Of course, even if you adhere to these precautions, you could still break down a

mechanical item on your car could fail. You need to be properly prepared, so consider keeping some essential items in your car, including: Charger for your mobile telephone Blanket Bottle of water First aid kit Torch Map Matches Energy bars Wet wipes Money (a secret stash of cash in the boot) Fire extinguisher Reflective triangles Jumper cables Notebook and pen Tyre bomb (tyre sealant canister)

Scenario number Two: The accidenT You may think youre the worlds greatest driver (and maybe you are). Despite this, chances are good that you will meet someone by accident one day. So, what do you do if this happens? Specific legislation varies from country to country, but there are a couple of rules of thumb that apply the world over. If you do have an accident, your first priority is to check to see if anyone has been hurt. Then, you need to exchange your details with the driver of the other vehicle. On a practical level being involved in an accident is a traumatic event. It is quite easy to forget your responsibilities and to act out of character, comments Gary Ronald, public affairs manager, Automobile Association (AA) South Africa. However it is very important to make sure that as the driver you obtain as much information from the driver of the other vehicle. Typically you would

need the other drivers name and address, identity number, make of vehicle as well as the vehicle registration number. Always keep a notebook and pen in your glove box, in order to record these details. Your mobile telephone is a really handy tool: you can use it to photograph the actual crash site. If you dont have a camera, a simple sketch plan of the accident could prove to be invaluable especially if a court case results from the collision. An important word of advice: while chatting to the other driver, stay calm (shouting or boxing never helps the situation). Always report the accident to police within 24 hours. The AA suggests that, if your vehicle needs to be towed to a panel beater or body repair shop, you should contact your insurer and be guided by them as to who to call to do the recovery and where to take the vehicle. Always obtain a reference number.

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Scenario number Three: The TheFT It happens every single day som ewhere in the world: a car is stolen. Its a horrible feeling: emerging from the mall only to find our much-loved set of wheels gone. But you can ado pt some preventative measures to min imise the chances of your car going mis sing. The first tip is the most obvious : lock your car! Incredibly, lots of peo ple still dont do this with disastrous consequences! For instance, Prin cess Beatrice of England had her car stolen after she left the keys in the igni tion. Locking your car wont only min imise the chances of it being stolen; it will also reduce the chance of som eone hiding in the back seat when you return. Its a sad fact of life that, in Sou th Africa, vehicle theft is common place.

Bearing this mind, we asked the South African Police Service for som e tips to help minimise vehicle theft. The men and women in uniform suggest the following: Park in well-lit areas Lock all the doors and make sure the windows are all closed Fit an alarm and immobiliser if your car doesnt already have one Fit locks to your wheels so they cant be stolen Leave nothing visible in your car Be aware of your surrounding s at all times Avoid stopping in remote area s If you live in a country where veh icle theft is commonplace, a tracking device is a good idea.

is more from the car. Your life number Four: possessions Scenario valuable than your rs a lift The hijackinG Never give strange vehicle rier is the prospect of r with your route Even sca Become familia s can involve trip hijacking, because thi before you start the , we turned to nd as keys ready in your ha rsonal risk. Once again pe Have your ecially if boys and girls in r, esp the South African you approach your ca d this is what your uniform for advice, an are difficult to find in they nd: to buy a leash, they recomme handbag. Its possible travel to work and your handbag Vary the route you which is attached to s sy to locate your key if this is possible back, and makes it ea near or at nts tering rking attenda If strangers are loi Parking lots with pa st and alert n are best ur driveway, drive pa yo or supervisio y or police ays leave enough your security compan At traffic lights, alw extortionists may and the car in Car hijackers or space between you you. never boxed in r accident to entrap stage a mino front of you so you are this. If your car is eck around you , ch Be aware of As you near home d and you think following you? bumped from behin any suspicious cars drive to ur garage or uation is suspicious, the sit Only turn into yo tion for help te/door is open, the nearest police sta driveway once the ga operate fully. Do co r driving up If you are hijacked, to prevent another ca purse or valuables. you in not reach for your behind and blocking hind if forced Leave everything be
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