Hijacking is always on the rise in South Africa.
It’s time to take some safety precautions.
Charnel Hattingh, national marketing and communications manager at Fidelity, shared a number of tips to help you survive.
For drivers who suspect they are being followed, Charnell advised: “Wait for any cars to pass you and wait until the car is at a far distance before entering your property.”
Those with a panic button app must keep it on hand, just in case.
Charnel said the FindU app has been found to be helpful by many people on their way home and in the event of an emergency.
She reminded parents that when there are children in the car, the eldest should be seated behind the driver and the youngest on the left.
“The reason for this is that if you’re hijacked and need to get out of the car, you can move quickly from the driver’s door to the door directly behind it.
“You can reach across the eldest child to unstrap the younger one.
“The eldest child can cling to you as you remove them together.”
She advised Sun Wellbeing: “If you need to stop in your driveway to manually open the gate, remember to always leave the key in the ignition and the motor running, unless you have a child in the car.
“Only then should you take the key with you as you open the gate.
“The key is a valuable negotiating tool. They want your car and you want your child.”
She asked Mzansi people to be alert and check for strangers or strange cars in the street.
“Turn your radio off, put your cellphone down, tell the kids to be quiet and concentrate on your surroundings as you approach home.
“And don’t forget to report anything suspicious to your security provider or cops.
“The golden rule is to not antagonise the hijackers.
“You need to show them you’re not a threat.
“Lift up your arms to show you have no weapon and use your left arm to undo your seatbelt and put your car in neutral.”
