Vehicle spiking used to be a rare occurrence on South African roads but has gained traction as more and more criminals become aware of how relatively simple the heinous act can be to carry out.
Spikings refer to when sharp objects are placed on the road, usually under the cover of darkness, in an attempt to puncture car tyres and force motorists to pull over.
Once they come to a complete stop, criminals emerge from the bushes and rob them of their valuables, or in extreme cases, kidnap them and take them to ATMs to withdraw cash.
To safeguard oneself from these thieves, car-tracking firm Cartrack recommends that motorists heed the following advice:
- Maintain a good following distance
- Do not stop for any objects on the road
- Avoid driving at night, especially on secluded freeways
- If possible, change lanes just before passing under a bridge
- When circumstances allow, drive in the middle of two lanes
- Travel at a reasonable speed in dangerous areas, preferably under 80km/h
Additional safety precautions one can take include staying in contact with your loved ones and notifying them of your whereabouts whenever possible.
Consider installing a GPS tracking device that will consistently broadcast your vehicle’s location to the tracking company.
If you have around R40,000 to spend, you can kit out your car with bulletproof wheels, too, which can keep driving for long distances even after the rubber is completely disintegrated.
Also be wary of roadblocks at unusual hours and in odd locations, as this could be another ploy to hijack your car and steal your valuables.
The following roads have been identified as hotspots for spiking crimes by the Motor Industry Staff Association:
The worst-case scenario
If these preventative tactics fail and you end up hitting a carefully placed spike, Cartrack warns that you should avoid braking and pulling over at all costs.
Instead, drive slowly and as far as possible to put distance between yourself and the perpetrators who are likely to be on foot.
When your car eventually comes to a standstill, it’s imperative that you do not stay seated. Get out and run to the opposite side of the road to find a hiding spot while you call for help.
“Staying in the vehicle is what the thieves are hoping for because they want all your valuables, including your cell phone and bank card, so they can empty your bank account,” said Cartrack.
“This will also help you avoid getting kidnapped.”
Furthermore, share your live location with a friend or family member as this will help them locate you faster, and should the thieves or any other potentially dangerous individual get to you, someone will be able to trace you using your last known position.
In the event that you were unable to get away from your aggressors, the only thing left to do is to comply.
Lift both your hands up when the thieves approach to show you are not calling for help or trying to take out a weapon.
Follow all commands and do not try to fight back as this could motivate the attackers to become violent.
Remain as calm as possible and don’t make sudden, unexpected movements that might intimidate the thieves and escalate the situation.
Finally, take note of the little details of the perpetrators without drawing too much attention to yourself as this will give the police solid leads when you report the crime after the fact.
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