Yesterday, protest action broke out in the Cape. It is being reported that protests have turned violent with a truck being petrol bombed and the stoning of cars. Ideally you should avoid driving through affected areas at all costs but if you do find yourself in the middle of a protest, the managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, provides some tips to keep in mind.
- Wherever possible find routes that go around the protest.
- Do not to engage with protestors negatively and incite further conflict.
- Listen to authorities who are trained to defuse the situation and protect all citizens from harm.
- If protestors are damaging vehicles, turn around where possible and without endangering yourself or other motorists or breaking the law.
- While you will want keep your vehicle undamaged, the most important priority is your personal safety.
- Look out for people gathering at the side of the road or on bridges to avoid being caught up in protest action if it spreads.
- Drive watching 12 seconds ahead of you so that you can identify these volatile situations immediately.
- If you are forced to stop or slow down because of a protest, be careful not to block yourself in.
- Leave room between yourself and the car ahead of you and identify an escape route.
- This will help you avoid being trapped in by traffic and give you an option to escape the trouble when a safe opportunity arises.
- Be ready to quickly get out of the car if necessary. The car, however, is normally the safest place to be during a protest.
- Remaining calm is key.
“The objective is to avoid the strike completely. Never let a potentially volatile strike catch you by surprise or block yourself in when things can go wrong. South African drivers should be prepared for every scenario,” advises Herbert.
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