Staying safe on the road in extreme weather
This week has proven that the weather can turn extreme and dangerous in a matter of minutes, catching people unawares and putting them at risk. But there are a number of measures you can take to minimise your risks, says MiWay.
By: Nthabiseng Moloi, MiWay Head of Marketing & Brand
The extreme weather conditions and floods experienced in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal came as a stark reminder that we all need to take extra care to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe – particularly during the rainy season.
While you cannot prevent the extremes of nature, you can take a number of steps to prevent damage to your home and property in the event of storms:
- Be aware of the risk of lightning when planning your garden. Plant tall trees away from the buildings on your property so that if lightning should strike them, the risk of falling debris and fire is minimised.
- Protect your home with a lightning conductor – particularly if you have a thatched roof, or live in a high-rise house or mountainous areas.
- Install surge protection to protect your costly electronic items, or unplug these devices during a storm.
- Don’t use electrical devices or your landline telephone during a lightning storm.
- Avoid going outdoors or taking shelter under trees during a lightning storm.
In the event of injury due to lightning, it is important to immediately call emergency services. South African emergency ambulance services can be contacted on 10177.
To further minimise storm damage to your home and property:
- Keep large trees around the house trimmed, and remove dead branches.
- Clear gutters of leaves, twigs and debris regularly.
- Check that your entrance ways allow water to run off, rather than pooling at your door.
- Ensure that your buildings and walls are structurally sound and able to withstand strong winds and heavy rain.
In extreme weather, the safest option is to stay indoors. But if you should find yourself caught in hailstorms or downpours while on the road, these tips can help you stay safer:
- It’s always important – but never more than during the rainy season – to check that your car’s tyres are not worn. Make sure that your spare tyre is safe for use, too. Be sure to check that your brakes and brake lights are in working condition as well.
- In extremely heavy rain, do not allow your car to mist up. Switch your demisters on to clear up your windscreen for visibility.
- Keep your headlights and even your hazard lights on, for better visibility.
- Increase the driving distance between you and other motorists for added safety and be more vigilant about pedestrians and other road users.
- Don’t slam on your brakes, stop gradually by taking your foot off the accelerator to avoid skidding.
- Only move forward if you can clearly see what is ahead of you, and don’t drive through deep waters or attempt to cross a stretch of water. Even in relatively shallow water, tyres can act as flotation devices – lifting up even big vehicles and sending them downstream. It can take just 60cm of moving water to move a vehicle and carry it away. You should also never attempt to walk across a flooded or fast-moving river.
- If you are caught in a hailstorm, stay calm and look for cover such as a covered car park, a petrol station or a bridge. But be careful when pulling over; don’t put yourself or others at risk by making a mad dash for shelter. Don’t park under trees as there is a danger of falling branches and debris. If there’s no shelter close by, pull over onto the side of the road if it is safe to do so. Hail causes more damage to moving vehicles than stationary ones.
- If you are caught in a flooded road, try and get to higher ground as soon as possible.
However, as we have experienced in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal this past week, when the rain comes down in buckets, water levels can rise extremely quickly. Despite your best efforts, you could find yourself in a flash flood situation.
How do you survive if you are caught in a flash flood situation while you’re in your car?
- Try to stay calm – do not panic!You and your passengers need to focus on one goal only and that is to exit the car as quickly as possible.
- Unbuckleyour seat belt.
- Get out!If you can’t open the doors because of the water pressure against them, roll down your windows. If your electronic windows fail to open, use the metal part of your removable head rests to break the windows – or any other steel-tipped tool. Alternatively, try kicking out the windscreen.
- If your windows won’t open, and you’ve exhausted all alternatives, let the car fill with water and then attempt to open a door.Once the internal pressure is equal to the pressure of the water from outside, you will be able to open the door more easily. Experts recommend choosing a door on the side away from the water flow. Get out of the car immediately, hold your breath and swim to the surface and get to higher ground as soon as you can. Do not stay in the car until it sinks.
- If you are swept into fast moving floodwater outside of your car, point your feet downstreamto reduce your risk of hitting your head on an obstacle.
(Note: While not all experts agree on all the survival tips and the precise sequence of escape – these tips are commonly given as sensible options to minimise risk. All points should be taken as advice and are not meant to cover all possible circumstances.)
Remember that MiWay’s 24/7 emergency assistance team, MiHelp, is standing by! Give them a call on 08600 767 64.