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Damaged Car Alert: Top 4 Reasons For Car Accidents In SA
It all happens in a split second! A small lapse of judgement from you (or the other driver) and your precious car spins out of control as it collides on the highway. (It can happen to any of us). And now your trusty wheels are no longer running. As you navigate injuries, comfort those who are hurt, call the ambulance, organise the towing of your vehicle and fill out police accident reports, the stress of the paperwork is overwhelming. You need to sell your damaged car for the best cash price and get back to your endless to-do list without the hassle of admin and hours on the phone.
While there are a myriad of reasons why your car is smashed, at Sell Your Damaged Car, we are in the business of helping hundreds of clients who need to sell accident-damaged cars every day. We can relieve you of some of the stress factors you are facing in the aftermath of a car crash.
We’ve researched the top 4 reasons for car accidents in SA and included a few tips to help you keep safe on the road going forward:
#1 Speeding
According to Arrive Alive, the severity of a car crash increases with speed. With a reaction time of one second, it will take the average driver travelling at 110km/h about 90m to come to a stop on a dry surface. (As the speed increases, so does the time it takes to come to a halt).
The ‘need for speed’ also compromises the effectiveness of safety devices such as airbags and seat belts and reduces the visual field of the driver, restricting their peripheral vision.
So when you have somewhere to go in a rush, don’t opt to put the ‘pedal to the metal’ but instead send a message (before you start driving) to say you are likely to be a little late. A few minutes delay is better than arriving with a damaged car or not arriving at all.
#2 Distracted driving
Ever sent a quick text while behind the wheel? Or perhaps you didn’t get time to apply your lipstick or put on your tie before you left home? Maybe you need to answer a quick call or programme your GPS while you travel the first kilometre to your destination?
According to Netcare, texting while driving makes you 23% more likely to have an accident - damage your trusty vehicle. An estimated 25% of all road deaths are caused by distracted driving with young drivers being the biggest culprits.
The trouble with distracted driving is that so many South African drivers are guilty of this. According to a survey by the Automobile Association (AA), during a typical period of peak morning traffic, 7.2% of 2 500 drivers were using their phones while driving.
If texting while driving is a temptation for you, rather lock your phone in the boot of your car to ensure that all your concentration is on the road. You can always opt to respond to those WhatsApps once you and your car arrive at the destination in one piece.
#3 Drunk driving
We all know that driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious ‘no-no.’ But did you know that the legal blood alcohol level in South Africa is a mere 0.05%? This could mean that just one beer could bring a driver over the legal limit. (The fact that so many get away should never be an excuse to take a chance and drive while under the influence.) Alcohol can also remain in your system for 8 hours after consumption.
In South Africa, if you are found driving under the influence, you could be held in custody until you post bail and, depending on your prior convictions and circumstances surrounding the arrest, you could face a minimum fine of R2 000, a two-year jail sentence or both. You will also be hit with a criminal record and may even lose your driver’s licence.
According to statistics published in 2020, drunk driving accounts for 27.1% of fatal crashes in South Africa - a shocking statistic. Bottom line - drunk driving could seriously damage your car and possibly your life or the life or someone else.
The best advice we can offer is to never drink and drive - ever! Appoint a designated driver, stay the night or book an Uber.
#4 Driver tiredness
Arrive Alive says that, according to anecdotal evidence, as many as 60% of truck accidents may be due to driver tiredness.“Tiredness-related accidents are three times more likely to result in serious injury or death compared to other types of road accidents,” says Arrive Alive.
Worse yet, a driver asleep at the wheel is incapable of avoiding an accident and is consequently more likely to cause death or a serious injury.
Drivers going on a long road trip are advised to take regular breaks every 2 hours on the road. And those coming off night shift are advised to rather get a lift or take public transport.
Drowsiness can be as dangerous as alcohol, since it impairs one’s motor skills and cognitive ability. A study found that driving for more than 24 hours without sleep is comparable to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%. Driving while tired will also result in slow reaction times and decreased concentration.
Sell your damaged car to the rescue
Once you’ve taken a deep breath and worked through the turmoil of a car crash, give us a call to sort out the sale of your non-running car.
At Sell Your Damaged Car, we offer free towing, instant cash and top quality service to get you back to what matters most. We buy cars in any condition - running or not - and handle all the paperwork. Whatever the reason for an accident, we are here to help you.