According to Boksburg North CPF chairperson Mark Gilpin, three motorists travelling between the Atlas and Rondebult road offramps on the N12 fell victim to spikings on the evening of October 14.
All the vehicles’ tyres were damaged but the occupants escaped unhurt.
Gilpin said criminals often disguise these road spikes in items such as brown paper bags or takeaway boxes.
“The aim is to damage the vehicle’s tyres, forcing you to pull over and assess the damage. Once you’re out of the car, the criminals rob you. There have also been spikings on the R21 and N17 freeways. Motorists need to be extra vigilant.”
Also Read: Beware ploy by criminals to spike roads
Gilpin shared a few tips for motorists, from Cartrack:
• Avoid driving at night if possible. It is difficult to see objects at night while driving, especially on roads that don’t have enough lighting. Criminals take advantage of that, which is why most of these incidents happen at night or in the early hours of the morning.
• Keep a good following distance. Create a safe space between you and the vehicle in front of you so that you can manoeuvre out of situations in an emergency.
• Don’t stop for any objects on the road, this is how criminals get your attention. It leads to you getting out of the vehicle. If you spot an obstacle ahead of you, move into the emergency lane or the grass verge if the highway allows.
• Reduce speed: Travel at a reasonable speed; try not to go over 80km if you know you’re in a dangerous area. This increases your chances of seeing obstacles on the road. Criminals mostly target the fast lanes because they know that by the time a motorist realises there’s something on the road, it’s too late.
• Stay in the middle: If circumstances allow, drive in the middle of two lanes, with two wheels on one side and two wheels on the other side. This may help you miss spikes placed in the lane, and it also makes it easier to swerve left or right. Remember, this is not in line with the rules of the road and should only be done in an absolute emergency, like when suspecting that you’re being targeted by spikes on the road.
• Change lanes just before passing under a bridge. It is usually dark under a bridge, which makes it a hotspot for placing spikes.
The Boksburg Advertiser is awaiting comment from the SAPS on these incidents.
