With many local airlines not operating fully, and the importance of social distancing still a top priority, it could be the case that a wider array of South Africans will embark on road trips this December than normal.
In a year of hard lockdowns, many a South African will be itching to hit the wide-open roads for their December holidays.
In the unique year that has been 2020, it will be interesting to see how the holiday period shapes up with the pandemic still very much with us.
With many local airlines not operating fully, and the importance of social distancing still a top priority, it could be the case that a wider array of South Africans will embark on road trips this December than normal.
And when considering that most people’s cars have been parked longer in the garage in 2020 than in previous years, holidaymakers will also have to take a closer look at whether their vehicles are fully ready to hit the road.
More than ever, it’s important to inspect the state of your windscreens and elements in contact with the road - like suspension, steering and brakes.
Windscreen wipers
With above-average rainfall forecast for South Africa until January 2021, you’ll need to ensure that your windscreen wipers are in good working order to ensure you have good visibility at all times.
Take a look at the state of the rubber on your wipers as well as the wiper fittings
Telltale signs for potential problems include any vibrating, squeaking or streaking noises. These indicate damage to the rubber band, which can be caused by a range of factors like overuse, oil, dirt and even just ageing.
Auto glass
Over time, small stones or cracks may have occurred along the surface of your windscreen. With your car parked longer in the garage this year, you may not have fully noticed these either.
A cracked windscreen is not only a hindrance to your ability to see what’s going on around you, but it can also become a danger to you during front-end collisions or rollovers. This is because a windshield forms part of the structure that holds your car together.
Your windscreen is also critical to providing support to your airbag. If necessary, ensure that you carry out repairs to your glass before it becomes a bigger problem.
Suspension
The suspension on a vehicle relates to shock absorbers, and when these are worn, your tyres can start bouncing along the road while driving.
When a wheel is bouncing, there's no positive contact to the road surface. As a result, your braking and stability are affected, especially in wet weather conditions and during emergency stops.
The risk here is that your vehicle may go into an uncontrollable slide.
Control arms, lateral links
Any issues with your car’s control arms or lateral links will mean that you don’t have adequate control.
This can be especially dangerous when it comes to harsh braking in wet conditions or where there is lots of sand or pebbles.
It’s critical to ensure that these are in full working condition - and at Autoboys, we can assist you with this if you need advice.
Braking system and tyres
Lastly, it’s imperative that your car is able to stay on the road surface with tyres that are in good condition and a fully functioning braking system.
When it comes to tyres, check that your tread is the right depth - the law states this needs to be at least 1.6mm. Also, be sure to check for any radial cracks as these could cause blowouts while driving.
Further to this, make sure you have a fully functioning braking system that includes sufficient brake pad thickness, and brake discs that are not adversely worn. This latter issue, in particular, can cause brake fade which is when the brakes overheat so much that they become ineffective.
If you take care of all these key aspects on your vehicle, then you can substantially reduce your risk on the roads over this holiday period.
Filum Ho is the CEO of South African auto parts and glass specialists Autoboys. Born in Taiwan but now living in South Africa, Filum transitioned from a top career in investment banking at the likes of Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch to shaking up SA’s auto parts and glass markets.