There is no disputing that South Africa has seen a marked increase in the frequency and intensity of severe weather conditions over the last six years and there is no denying the impact of climate change in the insurance sector.

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The flooding in Durban racked up losses of R billions and it happened in a matter of minutes with incredible intensity, with some areas reporting golf-ball size hailstones, proving that extreme weather catastrophes happen with very little warning, and there is just no telling as to how severe they will be. 

Sansure would like to offer the following advice:

 

On the Road

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• Take special note of weather warnings and if possible, avoid being on the road or out and about during such times.

• If you can, rather avoid driving in heavy downpours.  Treacherous potholes could be hiding in the guise of a puddle. Never attempt to drive through a flooded area of the road – even a few centimeters of water is powerful enough to sweep a car away.

• If caught in a flash flood on the road, get yourself to safety as quickly as possible – if you can, get out of the vehicle and get to high ground.  Don’t close all the windows as the water will cause a vacuum and trap you in the car.

• Many car accident claims are due to slippery roads and potholes.  Tyre damage is not an uncommon occurrence and is normally not covered by a motor insurance policy unless another part of the vehicle is damaged at the same time.

• Check your tyre tread and replace worn tyres – an accident claim could potentially be repudiated if the tread is deemed insufficient to have stopped the vehicle in time.  The legally required minimum tread depth is 1.6mm.

• Increase your following distance and reduce your speed to allow enough time to react.

• Watch out for potholes as they are filled with water in rainy conditions.  Heavy rainfalls can also cause potholes to appear where there weren’t any previously.

• Watch for motorists swerving to avoid objects on the road and be prepared to do the same.

• Many traffic lights are out of order during heavy rain, so drive carefully.

• Roads are congested with many tempers fraying, keep your cool.

 

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