With heavy rain predicted for today and the week to follow, Netcare 911 urges road users to take extra precaution.
These weather conditions are associated with poor visibility and accident rates escalate as a result.
Keep in mind these important safety tips when braving the conditions:
- Ensure your windshield wipers are in a good condition.
- Ensure your tyres are also in a good condition with sufficient tread to handle all road conditions.
- Ensure your headlights, taillights, brake lights and indicators operate correctly to ensure that other drivers can see you during heavy rain.
- Drive with your headlights on.
- Remember to reduce your speed.
- Increase your following distance between your vehicle and the one ahead.
- Overtake only when it is safe to do so.
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
- Avoid using your phone while your car is in motion.
- Most importantly, buckle up those seatbelts.
- Ensure that children and babies are firmly secured in a car child seat.
- Avoid travelling unfamiliar roads.
Flash floods are likely to occur within six hours of such heavy rains, which often catches people unprepared.
These deadly, sudden floods often strike without warning, so if you’re living in an area prone to flooding, take extra safety measures.
4 tips to keep your loved ones safe:
- Always memorise emergency numbers, such as 082 911, 10111 and so on.
- Avoid low lying areas. Climb to higher ground if you find yourself caught in a flash flood.
- Avoid trying to walk or drive through flooded sections of road.
- Abandon your vehicle immediately if you are caught in a flash flood. Open the window to escape, if need be.
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