It is a New Year with promise and hope for all South African motorists. However, in 2021, South African motorists may have been suddenly confronted with the highway or other blocked roads due to protests. Read on further to find out what to do in such a situation.
Protests are not necessarily violent1
Thankfully, many protests and planned strikes are peaceful. That may be so, but it can still be frightening to be caught up in the thick of a huge protest.
What should be your primary concerns? 1
These should be looking after your safety and those of your passengers and protecting the car from any damage. Prevention is better than the cure, they say, so stay alert to any news about protest action coming out of potential hot spots. Also, be sure to check social media and any travel apps. In this way, you can avoid travelling near such areas.
What if I am caught up in the middle of protest action? 1
You may be caught up in a protest action in this real world. Avoid making contact with protestors and if there is interaction, make sure it is positive. Pay careful attention to what the authorities instruct you to do, as they know how to defuse the protest.
Potential car damage1
Despite the presence of police, some protestors may take a chance and try and damage cars. If you can see this about to happen, try an escape route where you can make a quick U-turn. Remember that while attempting to escape the protestors, avoid endangering your life or those of other pedestrians or drivers.
Don’t drive the wrong way1
To avoid the protestors, don’t drive down the highway the wrong way, as this could spell disaster. Avoid panic as you can make serious mistakes by swinging suddenly into an oncoming lane. It’s better to wait and then do a U-turn safely and calmly.
The media don’t tell you everything1
Obviously, social media cannot cover every possible pocket of protest action. For this reason, stay alert to spot groups of people gathering on the sides of roads or bridges. Slow down if you see something suspicious and establish any sign of violence or danger.
Give yourself space to manoeuvre1
Should you be forced to stop due to protest action, leave enough space between the car in front of you and your car so you can manoeuvre your way out if required. Getting out of your vehicle should be a last resort because the vehicle itself is still the safest place to be.
Stay calm1
Even though this may seem almost impossible, refusing to panic will be to your great advantage. The key is to avoid such complex and volatile situations in the first place.
You may have to claim from SASRIA insurers for any damage incurred to your car during civil unrest. Contact PMD for more information on this and their affordable car insurance products with unique benefits that include a reduce to zero excess* and fixed premiums*. T’s and C’s apply.
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
