Major vehicle tracking firm Cartrack has warned motorists to be extra vigilant at toll gates over the festive season as hijackings at toll plazas tend to spike during this period.
Alongside tolls, the company also warned that traffic lights and drive-thrus have become frequent hunting grounds for these criminals.
Recent crime stats indicate that as many as 59 cars are hijacked in the country per day, and these only include the incidents that are actually reported to the police.
These numbers are expected to rise during December and early parts of January while jolly motorists drive to and from their holiday destinations in vehicles filled to the brim with valuables.
“Unfortunately, as we get closer to Christmas and prep for those road trips – we need to be mindful of routes with toll gates,” said Cartrack.
“These essential junctions have become targets for toll-gate hijackings.”
The hijacking method used at toll gates most frequently is known as the “boxing-in” tactic.
This is when criminals cut off both the front and back paths, leaving you trapped in the middle with nowhere to go.
“The same method is used at drive-throughs of fast-food restaurants and victims’ home driveways,” said Cartrack.
It is extra effective at toll gates in particular as the plaza naturally funnels targets into a narrow lane, with a few vehicles behind them and the criminal’s vehicle ahead fully blocking any forward movement.
Apart from the boxing-in method, hijackers have several other modus operandi at toll gates.
Smash-and-grabs are frequently seen at these plazas, which involve criminals smashing a vehicle window to gain access to the interior and quickly steal keys or visible valuables like laptops, wallets, phones, etc.
They often aim for the side window closest to the driver’s seat in this scenario.
The nefarious individuals may also work in teams, with one of them distracting the driver by engaging them in conversation or asking them for directions, for example, while an accomplice tries to steal something from the car.
Away from toll gates, Cartrack highlights that hijackings and vehicle theft remain prevalent, and motorists should be aware of the two most commonly employed tactics.
This includes key-fob hacking, which is when criminals use specialised devices to intercept the signal emitted by the fob to hack the car’s key fob and unlock doors.
“It’s sophisticated in terms of technology use and is becoming increasingly common,” said Cartrack.
Relay theft is frequently seen, too.
Criminals use two devices for this method, one to amplify the signal from the car owner’s key fob and another to relay it to the vehicle, effectively unlocking it and allowing them to unlock and start the car engine without the use of the actual key.
Vusi Mona, spokesperson for the National Roads Agency, highlighted that while the entity can reduce the attractiveness of hijacking at toll plazas, it can’t control the intentions of criminals.
“While we can reduce the motivation to commit crime by increasing our security measures at toll plazas, we cannot police someone’s intention to commit a crime,” said Mona.
“We, therefore, appeal to road users to always be vigilant and aware of threats to their security in any location.”
Cartrack provided the following steps motorists can take to reduce the risk of toll gate hijackings:
- Stay alert and be aware
- Conceal your valuables
- Choose a well-lit toll path
- Travel during off-peak hours
“By consistently incorporating these robust security measures into your travel routine, you contribute to fostering a safer environment at toll gates,” said Cartrack.
Tap and go
In an effort to increase safety and travel times for motorists, First National Bank and Trans African Concession recently rolled out tap-and-go payment solutions across toll gates along the N3 and N4 freeways, as well as on the popular Chapman’s Peak Drive in Cape Town.
As of 1 December 2024, over 88 lanes have been switched on along the N3 toll route between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal at De Hoek, Wilge, Tugela, and Mooi River plazas, both on the mainline as well as the on- and off ramps.
An additional 73 lanes along the N4 toll route between Pretoria and Mozambique also gained tap-and-go functionality, including the Diamond Hill, Middelburg, Machado, and Nkomazi plazas.
The tap-and-go-enabled plazas allow several payment methods, including:
- Tap-enabled debit or credit cards (Europay, Mastercard, Visa)
- Payment apps like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay
- Wearables such as Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, and others
- Other tap-enabled apps that allow the use of South African-issued bank cards
Foreign cards will now also be accepted at these toll gates, and if you do not have a contactless card or device, you can still pay with cash or e-tag.
“This payments innovation – a first in Africa – will mean a more convenient, secure experience for South African motorists,” said Daniel Kaan, CEO of Core Banking and Merchant Services at First National Bank.
The contactless payment solution comes after toll gates were flagged as one of the most prominent locations for card cloning in South Africa.
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