While there was a considerable drop in crime levels with the start of stage five lockdown, since stage four began this number has steadily increased. In the first week of stage four, vehicle theft more than doubled. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently told Parliament that poverty related crimes, such as theft, robbery and housebreaking, can be expected to rise.
While drivers should expect a greater police presence to handle this, South Africans are also reliant on another sector to provide assistance in the form of private security companies. The managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says: “Drivers may at times be left wondering how to share the roads with private security company drivers, especially if they are driving recklessly. According to the law, only emergency services can drive with red or blue lights and not follow road rules when the circumstances necessitate it.
“If a private security company driver breaks a law, places someone in danger or causes a crash they can be held liable for it in the same way that any other driver would. They do not receive the same liberties that emergency services do. Many private security companies, however, do work closely with the police in providing assistance to people in need and catching criminals.”
What should one do when there is a private security car behind them clearly responding to an emergency? “You could refuse to move out of the way as they do not have any special privileges or even make it more difficult to get through traffic. MasterDrive recommends basing your decision on how to react on a number of factors.
“The first, is that are they are very likely responding to an emergency and someone may desperately be in need of assistance. Refusing to move out of the way adds crucial minutes onto their response time and could even be the difference between life and death. In this scenario, while you’re not obligated to do so, giving them space rather than hindering their response can be the right thing to do.”
The second, is that not all drivers from private security providers may have been trained. “Consequently, some drivers are not trained to drive through traffic in an emergency. You can choose to refuse to move out of the way but in that case, you are endangering yourself. Rather make way for the vehicle and contact the security company afterwards to inform them of their driver’s behaviour. Ultimately, deciding how to interact with private security drivers should be guided by prioritising safety for all.”
Fleet managers within private security companies need to ensure that their drivers are behaving safely and responsibly on the road as well. “Driving around traffic at higher speeds and under the pressure that drivers will be facing in the coming months, requires an advanced skill set. Ensuring drivers can handle the pressure without endangering themselves or anyone else is top priority,” says Herbert.
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