Festive season car hijacking warning

 Research shows clear spikes in crime during December, including hijacking.

While the reasons for this can only be assumed, you can take definite action to try protect yourselves and your families from finding yourselves in this very dangerous position.

Here are some simple tips on how to do this from Eugene Herbert, managing director of MasterDrive:

Hijackers need you to be stationary, which is why you should never pull into your driveway until the gate is open.

Instead, wait in the road parallel to your driveway, ready to go at any moment, while the gate opens.

Where possible you should also try to avoid stopping completely at intersections.

If conditions allow anticipate traffic light changes and drive slowly up to the intersection to avoid stopping at all.

Remember, however, these techniques can only be effective if you are aware of your surroundings and spot a potential threat before it reaches your window.

ALSO READ: New hijacking modus operandi

Shopping centres are one of the areas where crime levels increase drastically over the festive season.

Find a parking space against a wall and then reverse your car into the parking space.

When you return to your car you can offload your purchases while keeping an eye open for potential threats.

The wall at your back also prevents someone from surprising you from behind.

Children are also more likely to be travelling with you during December, and while none of us wants to consider being hijacked with our children on board, the reality is that we should.

Before you find yourself in this situation, teach your children where to sit in the car and what to do if it does happen.

Agree on a keyword which will mobilise car occupants into action.

Remember a car is replaceable but a life isn’t, so your primary objective should be to get yourself and your family out the car as quickly and safely as possible in case of a hijacking.

(MasterDrive is a company specialising in advanced driver training)

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