December 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
Editor
Reuben van Niekerk
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082 837 8801
Editor-at-large
Suzanne Walker
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Jacques Wilken
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Road Impression Editor
Charl Wilken
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083 297 1837
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Charlene Kruger
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Goodbye 2022
The South African economy has been dealt one blow after the
other in 2022, most recently the Transnet strike saw our major
ports shut down for 12 days. According to Business Unity South Africa, the cumulative
impact has resulted in logistics costs of R7 billion, as goods worth R65.3 billion stood idle.
The knock on effect is far reaching and will be felt for many years to come.
Fortunately for the automotive industry there seems to be some improvements on
the horizon. With fuel prices and interests rate continuing to rise consumers are more
cash strapped than ever. However, it does seem like supply in terms of new cars and
the chip shortage will return to normal levels during 2023. This will hopefully result in
the normalisation of pre-owned vehicle prices and parts and provide some relief for
consumers and the industry as a whole.
With the three-year anniversary of COVID-19 fast approaching, I believe that the
worst is behind us and that we will move closer to the normal we once knew next year.
Drive safely
South African roads are an extremely dangerous place, especially during the festive
season. Regular motorists as well as commercial vehicle operators need to do ebvery-
thing they can to try and mitigate this carnage.
Don’t drink and drive
Many South Africans like to unwind over the festive season by indulging in alcoholic
beverages and this is a big contributor to fatalities on our roads. While it is not just
motorists who are to blame, many drunk pedestrians also contribute to this statistic.
The bottom line is that drinking and driving do not mix, if you are planning on drinking
rather sleep over, elect a designated driver or use public transport.
Avoid overloading
Overloading is another big contributing factor to the festive season death toll.
Overloading, especially of trailers can lead to axle or tyre failure with catastrophic effects
for the tow vehicle and other road users. Avoid the temptation to overload vehicles or
trailers, it could save your life. The maximum weight allowed will be indicated on the
trailers manufacturing plate affixed to the chassis or in your vehicles owners’ manual.
Take your time
Many South Africans will drive thousands of kilometres to their holiday destination
and try to do it in one go. Fatigue has been proven to be one of the biggest contrib-
utors to driver related accidents. The rule of thumb remains, stop every two hours,
stretch your legs and have something cold to drink or a coffee.
Avoid peak times
The more cars on the road, the bigger the chances of being involved in an accident and
the longer your journey will take. If at all possible try and avoid peak days and times.
These include the 16th and 24th of December as well as the 2nd of January and the
weekend before schools resume.
Ensure that your car is roadworthy
It is essential to ensure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before hitting the
long road, this will ensure that you reach your destination without any hiccups and will
also prevent any unroadworthy components from causing an accident. Ask your local
dealership or workshop to check safety critical components like tyres, brakes, shocks,
windscreens and lights and rectify any issues before you hit the road.
Reuben van Niekerk
Editor
Editorial
EDITORIAL
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