Trifter

South Africa is certainly one of the most beautiful countries on our planet, this is plain to see when driving in the country. However there is another side to this vast wilderness of culture and history, one which any prospective traveller should be aware of.

Most people are aware of the crime situation in South Africa, this short article is not about giving figures and statistics. It’s a quick and easy guide about how you can travel safely in South Africa by taking certain precautions and enjoy this fantastic country.

Thousands upon thousands of people will converge on South Africa in 2010 for the world cup so it’s even more important to know the basic guidelines. Being caught up in the beauty of the country or the wonder of the world cup is perfectly fine, but don’t let it take your attention away from personal safety.

Take a few minutes to digest these little pointers before any driving trip you make in South Africa.

1. Before you get on the road try and ensure you have a properly planned out route or your GPS device programmed accurately. South Africas road infrastructure is big, modern and busy so you’ll certainly want a good idea of your route before you leave.

2. Contact telephone or mobile numbers - It is vital to have easily accesible numbers of the places you are travelling, your South African insurance company, and friends that can assist you also in the event that something happens. Try to also keep a seperate list written somewhere incase you phone breaks down, at least this way you still have access to the important numbers.

3. Doors Locked – It’s important that all doors remain locked in the car even on the highway. Your windows should also remain up, it’s generally safer for windows to not have more than a few inches gap open. You will encounter many stop streets and traffic junctions in South Africa which can be high risk areas, regardless of wether you are in the city or in rural areas keep all doors locked.

4. Valuables – Always keep your valuable items out of sight. As mentioned above, stop streets and traffic junctions are high risk areas so reduce your risk by placing phones, cameras, purses out of sight.

5. Giving Lifts – This is a big no no and should not be done. Quite often these can be eleborate tricks, you may think you are stopping for one person but there may be more hiding out of sight. No matter how kind or generous you are feeling that day, it is strongly advised you do not do this under any circumstances.

6. Lost - If you do become lost and need to stop somewhere, drive to the next gas/petrol station for directions. Do not stop near townships under any circumstances.

7. Fatigue - Make sure you are properly rested before a long trip, bring plenty of water and make a few stops along the way. Most stops have great eating areas to relax and re-energize. Driving safely in South Africa can be long and tiresome simply because of the vast distances so always keep an eye on your tiredness levels.

So there you have it, a few helpful tips for staying safe whilst driving in South Africa. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll greatly reduce the chances of any negative occurences on your trip. These will also become second nature to you eventually, just keep these in mind and you’ll be able to take in all the beauty of this magnificent country. Happy driving!