The most dangerous time to be on the road in South Africa is at 19h00 in the evening, while the most dangerous day is Saturday, according to Sakina Ntuli, King Price insurance expert and spokesperson.
Talking to Kaya 959, Ntuli said that of the vehicles that were written off by King Price between January 2021 and May 2023 that were younger than seven years, most were involved in accidents on the following days:
- Saturday – 23%
- Sunday – 20%
- Friday – 17%
- Monday – 12%
Regardless of the day, however, she said seven o’clock at night is the “absolute peak hour” for vehicular write-offs in the country, this being the time when the roads are most congested as people make their way home from work, many motorists are frustrated and in a rush, and visibility is at its lowest.
Reduce your risk on the road
A write-off is much more serious than a simple fender bender. It means your car has sustained so much damage that the insurer has deemed it “uneconomical to repair” and would rather pay out the value of the vehicle than have it fixed and put it back on the road.
Therefore, it’s of vital importance to ensure that you avoid risky behaviour on the road as much as possible, not just during these high-risk times but for every trip you take as South Africans are, after all, rated the most dangerous drivers in the world.
The first and most important aspect motorists must consider is whether their vehicle is roadworthy or not, said Ntuli.
Something like a worn tyre or broken taillight could play a major role in causing an accident, and if the car is insured, the insurer may not always pay out the claim if it is found that the vehicle’s unroadworthy state was a possible reason for a crash.
In addition, with the summer months approaching and more South Africans being out and about with friends and family, it may not always be fun to be the responsible one, but it can help to keep your car running for another day.
If you’re going out and you know you’re going to have a few drinks, rather use a ride-hailing service such as Uber or Bolt, carpool and take turns to be the designated driver, or consider staying at home to watch the big World Cup game which will be both safer and cheaper.
Lastly, with so many cars on local roads not being insured, it’s imperative to make sure that your ride is covered if the unfortunate happens so that you’re not left out of pocket.
Comprehensive insurance is the most ideal especially if your vehicle is financed as it covers all possible scenarios.
If this is out of your budget, there are several ways to bring down the monthly premium such as negotiating rates with your insurer, or cancelling nice-to-haves like car hire and tyre-and-rim coverage which all add small additional costs, said Ntuli.
If the all-encompassing package is still out of your reach, most insurers in South Africa have other options that still provide limited but not full coverage such as third-party liability insurance; third-party, fire, and theft insurance; agreed value insurance; and theft and write-off insurance.
Keyword: Most dangerous time and day to be on the road in South Africa