Suzuki Celerio safe in South Africa

Following the temporary suspension of UK sales of the Celerio and a condition experienced when carrying out an emergency braking test, Suzuki Auto South Africa would like to confirm that the Celerio sold in South Africa is not affected in any way.

The recently introduced Celerio continues to maintain high levels of active and passive safety. Dual front SRS airbags, an ABS anti-lock braking system, inertia reel seatbelts, childproof door locks and a high-mounted third brake light are all standard throughout the range.

Suzuki Celerio safe in South Africa

How to stay safe in the rain: Top tips for wet weather driving

While insurance helps sort out the aftermath, when it comes to car accidents, prevention is always far better than cure. When it rains, the chances of an accident increase owing to decreased visibility and slippery roads – and with most accidents caused by driver behaviour, how you drive has a direct influence on your safety and that of others.

That’s confirmed by the South African Insurance Association, which says motor insurance claims trends show that driver behaviour contributes to more than 60% of road accidents.

By taking extra care you can make your journey safer. Apply these tips to improve your wet weather driving skills.

Stay roadworthy

Make sure your headlights, taillights, brake lights and indicators are working properly. Check that your windscreen wipers are in good condition; replace the blades if frayed, brittle or damaged.  Brittle blades make a distinctive noise as they sweep across a dry or damp windscreen. And remember to turn on headlights in the rain to increase your chances of seeing and being seen in wet conditions.

Slow down

Driving to the conditions is essential – and when raining, wet roads mean slowing down and increasing following distances. If you encounter a sudden downpour, take your foot off the accelerator and let speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly, as this can cause the car to skid. Avoid making sudden lane changes, as this can increase the possibility of aquaplaning – when your tyres ‘float’ on a layer of water, breaking their contact with the road surface.

Mind the bends

Anticipation is key when approaching a bend, more so in the rain. Slow down before the corner and engage a lower gear, particularly with sharp bends. Your speed should be at its slowest as you enter the bend and both your hands should be on the steering wheel, with gentle acceleration through the curve. This slow in/fast out technique gives you most control.

It is also advisable to increase following distances from 2 seconds to 4 seconds.

Be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Middle of the road

Whenever possible, drive in the middle lane when it’;s raining. Water pools more in the outside lanes because of limited drainage, making the road surface more dangerous.

The deep end

Attempting to drive through deep water can cause damage to your vehicle’s electronics; it is also impossible to gauge just how deep a puddle is before you go through it. If you have to drive through a puddle, go especially slowly and turn around or reverse if the water reaches the bottom of your car doors. If your car gets submerged too deeply, the engine will stall and water might enter the engine through the air intake forcing you to replace it.

Never drive over bridges covered by moving water.

After the rain

When the rain has passed, make sure to test your brakes particularly if the downpour was heavy. Water can have a brief effect on disc brakes; braking a little (when safe to do so) quickly dispels water on the surface of the discs, allowing them to function as normal.

Finally, remember that rain does not cause car accidents – people diving in the rain do. By taking note of these easy tips, you can become a better wet weather driver, reducing the risk of accident to yourself, your family and other road users.

Also view:

Safe Driving in the Rain

Safe Driving in Bad Weather Conditions

For more information on car insurance, visit www.miway.co.za

MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no: 33970)

Insurance Limited (‘MiWay’) is a direct, short-term insurance company, offering customers a range of short-term insurance products including motor, household and homeowners insurance as well as add-on products such as warranty cover and liability cover. MiWay’;s shareholder is Santam, a blue-chip JSE-listed company.

How to stay safe in the rain: Top tips for wet weather driving

Suzuki Swifts sold in SA are safe says 3 -Star rating!

• Swift models sold in SA awarded 3-star rating


• Local models compliant with local and global safety standards


• Zero score for base-spec model sold in India only

Concerns regarding the safety rating of the Suzuki Swift 1.2 produced in India, which have emerged in the wake of a recent Global NCAP crash test, are not relevant to the model sold in South Africa.

According to Charl Grobler, sales and product manager at Suzuki Auto SA, the test was conducted on 2 different grades of the Suzuki Swift: the Indian basic specification model, and the Latin American export specification version.

“However, the Swift 1.2 model offered for sale in SA is the export specification version, which comes equipped with ABS and dual front airbags. Therefore, the zero safety score is not applicable to the locally available Swift model,” Grobler added.

The Global NCAP test conducted on the export model as sold in SA resulted in a 3-star rating. The Swift 1.2 also meets all SA regulations and compulsory specifications as set out by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) – previously known as the SABS.

Grobler points out that SA customers seeking an even higher level of active and passive safety can opt for the Swift 1.4 and Swift Sport models. These models benefit from additional safety systems, including a total of 6 airbags, Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) for the ABS braking system, and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Suzuki Swifts sold in SA are safe says 3 -Star rating!

Suzuki Swifts sold in SA are safe says 3 -Star rating!

• Swift models sold in SA awarded 3-star rating


• Local models compliant with local and global safety standards


• Zero score for base-spec model sold in India only

Concerns regarding the safety rating of the Suzuki Swift 1.2 produced in India, which have emerged in the wake of a recent Global NCAP crash test, are not relevant to the model sold in South Africa.

According to Charl Grobler, sales and product manager at Suzuki Auto SA, the test was conducted on 2 different grades of the Suzuki Swift: the Indian basic specification model, and the Latin American export specification version.

“However, the Swift 1.2 model offered for sale in SA is the export specification version, which comes equipped with ABS and dual front airbags. Therefore, the zero safety score is not applicable to the locally available Swift model,” Grobler added.

The Global NCAP test conducted on the export model as sold in SA resulted in a 3-star rating. The Swift 1.2 also meets all SA regulations and compulsory specifications as set out by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) – previously known as the SABS.

Grobler points out that SA customers seeking an even higher level of active and passive safety can opt for the Swift 1.4 and Swift Sport models. These models benefit from additional safety systems, including a total of 6 airbags, Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) for the ABS braking system, and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Suzuki Swifts sold in SA are safe says 3 -Star rating!

Chevy Spark proves to be a safe affordable choice

• All Chevrolet Spark models available with at least 2 airbags and ABS


• Safety features of utmost importance in all derivatives


• Spark safety reputation hits home in South Africa

30 OCTOBER 2014 - The Chevrolet Spark, which remains one of South Africa’;s most affordable vehicles, highlights safety features as some of its most important aspects. All derivatives in the Spark range, which consists of 6 versions, feature a minimum of 2 airbags, along with ABS and EBD, as standard.

Considered a no-brainer by General Motors South Africa, Chevrolet Brand Manager, Tim Hendon, elaborates: “We have adopted a no-compromise approach with the Chevy Sark in South Africa, a country where both fatal and non-fatal road accidents are rife. We pride ourselves on the importance of safety, where a compromise on modern safety elements like ABS and airbags is not an option.

We are committed to providing our customers with safe vehicles, no matter how cost-effective they may need to be.” Spark safety credentials are important on a global level, where in the United States the Chevrolet Spark was awarded the Top Safety Pick accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earlier in 2014 – the only supermini to achieve the award thanks to an Acceptable rating in the Institute’;s small overlap crash test. Airbags aside, the Spark’;s body construction, which includes strategic crumple zones and impact protection beams, contributed to the high rating.
The Chevrolet Spark’;s safety credentials were also highlighted in the South African context in 2014, when an accident involving 2 pensioners in the Eastern Cape saw their Spark subjected to a high-speed impact. Both occupants walked away from the accident with only slight bruising, the driver – 69-year-old Denise Westgate – having remarked at how her vehicle’;s ABS and EBD allowed for control to be maintained and that the structural integrity of the body allowed for a safe and easy exit once the vehicle had stopped moving. Westgate went on to replace her vehicle with another Spark.

“We build the Chevrolet Spark in Port Elizabeth to international GM standards in all respects, with safety regulations and requirements of the highest level to ensure our vehicles are as safe as possible. It’;s a simple, no-compromise approach to the most important facet of our interaction with the people who drive our vehicles – their safety,” concludes Hendon.

For more info on buying a vehicle also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

;

Airbags prior to fitment

Chevy Spark proves to be a safe affordable choice

Chevy Spark proves to be a safe affordable choice

• All Chevrolet Spark models available with at least 2 airbags and ABS


• Safety features of utmost importance in all derivatives


• Spark safety reputation hits home in South Africa

30 OCTOBER 2014 - The Chevrolet Spark, which remains one of South Africa’;s most affordable vehicles, highlights safety features as some of its most important aspects. All derivatives in the Spark range, which consists of 6 versions, feature a minimum of 2 airbags, along with ABS and EBD, as standard.

Considered a no-brainer by General Motors South Africa, Chevrolet Brand Manager, Tim Hendon, elaborates: “We have adopted a no-compromise approach with the Chevy Sark in South Africa, a country where both fatal and non-fatal road accidents are rife. We pride ourselves on the importance of safety, where a compromise on modern safety elements like ABS and airbags is not an option.

We are committed to providing our customers with safe vehicles, no matter how cost-effective they may need to be.” Spark safety credentials are important on a global level, where in the United States the Chevrolet Spark was awarded the Top Safety Pick accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earlier in 2014 – the only supermini to achieve the award thanks to an Acceptable rating in the Institute’;s small overlap crash test. Airbags aside, the Spark’;s body construction, which includes strategic crumple zones and impact protection beams, contributed to the high rating.
The Chevrolet Spark’;s safety credentials were also highlighted in the South African context in 2014, when an accident involving 2 pensioners in the Eastern Cape saw their Spark subjected to a high-speed impact. Both occupants walked away from the accident with only slight bruising, the driver – 69-year-old Denise Westgate – having remarked at how her vehicle’;s ABS and EBD allowed for control to be maintained and that the structural integrity of the body allowed for a safe and easy exit once the vehicle had stopped moving. Westgate went on to replace her vehicle with another Spark.

“We build the Chevrolet Spark in Port Elizabeth to international GM standards in all respects, with safety regulations and requirements of the highest level to ensure our vehicles are as safe as possible. It’;s a simple, no-compromise approach to the most important facet of our interaction with the people who drive our vehicles – their safety,” concludes Hendon.

For more info on buying a vehicle also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

;

Airbags prior to fitment

Chevy Spark proves to be a safe affordable choice

Chevy Spark proves to be a safe affordable choice

• All Chevrolet Spark models available with at least 2 airbags and ABS


• Safety features of utmost importance in all derivatives


• Spark safety reputation hits home in South Africa

30 OCTOBER 2014 - The Chevrolet Spark, which remains one of South Africa’;s most affordable vehicles, highlights safety features as some of its most important aspects. All derivatives in the Spark range, which consists of 6 versions, feature a minimum of 2 airbags, along with ABS and EBD, as standard.

Considered a no-brainer by General Motors South Africa, Chevrolet Brand Manager, Tim Hendon, elaborates: “We have adopted a no-compromise approach with the Chevy Sark in South Africa, a country where both fatal and non-fatal road accidents are rife. We pride ourselves on the importance of safety, where a compromise on modern safety elements like ABS and airbags is not an option.

We are committed to providing our customers with safe vehicles, no matter how cost-effective they may need to be.” Spark safety credentials are important on a global level, where in the United States the Chevrolet Spark was awarded the Top Safety Pick accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earlier in 2014 – the only supermini to achieve the award thanks to an Acceptable rating in the Institute’;s small overlap crash test. Airbags aside, the Spark’;s body construction, which includes strategic crumple zones and impact protection beams, contributed to the high rating.
The Chevrolet Spark’;s safety credentials were also highlighted in the South African context in 2014, when an accident involving 2 pensioners in the Eastern Cape saw their Spark subjected to a high-speed impact. Both occupants walked away from the accident with only slight bruising, the driver – 69-year-old Denise Westgate – having remarked at how her vehicle’;s ABS and EBD allowed for control to be maintained and that the structural integrity of the body allowed for a safe and easy exit once the vehicle had stopped moving. Westgate went on to replace her vehicle with another Spark.

“We build the Chevrolet Spark in Port Elizabeth to international GM standards in all respects, with safety regulations and requirements of the highest level to ensure our vehicles are as safe as possible. It’;s a simple, no-compromise approach to the most important facet of our interaction with the people who drive our vehicles – their safety,” concludes Hendon.

For more info on buying a vehicle also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

;

Airbags prior to fitment

Chevy Spark proves to be a safe affordable choice

Apple Spend heralds a new, safe era of cashless convenience

By David Tuffley, Griffith University

Mobile payment systems have been around for years with out gaining a lot traction, but this may possibly be about to adjust with the release of the iPhone 6’s Apple Spend.

This newest iPhone utilizes close to field communication (NFC), a properly-established technologies that allows smartphones to connect and share details with other smartphones and point-of-sale computer systems.

Apple Spend has the potential to do away with credit cards, public transit tickets and all those club and loyalty cards that currently make our wallets and purses bulge.

With your phone running a safe application that knows your account details, you simply bring the telephone into close proximity to the reader in the retailer or wherever, and the transaction is accomplished.

So if it’s this easy, why don’t we use NFC now?

Ta da! Paid.
EPA/Monica Davey

Historically, the limited take up of NFC has been a bit of a catch-22 circumstance. Not sufficient people making use of the technology so the retailers do not invest in the gear, which in turn gives people the impression that NFC is not worth having.

That is altering as retail chains such as McDonalds and Disney deploy point-of-sale NFC readers in anticipation of the iPhone 6 launch. It does not finish there – NFC trials, pilots and tests are taking place all more than the planet.

Around 800 million reasons to use NFC

Probably the most persuasive explanation that NFC on the iPhone 6 may succeed exactly where Google and other people did not is that Apple at present has around 800 million registered iTunes accounts, many of which incorporate credit card details.

That figure is expanding at the phenomenal rate of around 500,000 new accounts per day, or 44% annual growth.

To place these figures into perspective, Apple has much more than double the quantity of credit cards on file than both Amazon and PayPal combined.

Apple is entering into agreements with credit card-issuing banks, as properly as Visa, MasterCard and American Express, to bring their mobile payments plan to fruition.

Payment by Watch

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduces the new Apple Watch, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
EPA/Monica Davey

Generating payments by holding your phone against a reader is straightforward sufficient, but employing your watch is even easier. Apple’s lengthy-awaited Watch will be able to pair with the telephone in your pocket to do this.

Other smartwatches on the industry have been gaining favour as a overall health management gadget for their capacity to collect information on heart rate and other metrics.

Of course, these watches can also make phone calls, play music, tell you where you are through GPS, verify your email, send text messages and update your social media.

In addition to these handy functions, the Apple Watch will also enable customers of the new iPhone, as properly as earlier models, to also make payments.

As long as an iPhone is equipped with Bluetooth 4. – found in the iPhone 4s onwards – they will be capable to pair with the Watch and be used to make mobile payments. This backward compatibility will be an attractive function in the Watch that will give hundreds of millions of older iPhone users a cause to get 1.

How secure is NFC?

Folks are understandably concerned, if not afraid, that utilizing NFC-enabled devices to make mobile payments will open them up to fraud and loss.

As a beginning point, NFC mobile payments use similar security features as the existing speak to-much less payment cards like PayPass.

On leading of that will be further layers of safety in order to comply with “post-issuance activation of an NFC payment application”. The user is validated by the credit card business and is issued with a code that is stored on the phone’s SIM card.

The other large worry is: what occurs should you shed your telephone or have it stolen? This situation could be handled with 1 call to your mobile ne2rk operator. The lost telephone could be remotely locked, and the ne2rk operator could also notify your registered service providers so they can bar any further access to your different accounts. A new SIM card would then be issued and safe use restored.

No digital technique is 25% safe against hackers, but with these additional safety characteristics, NFC payments are arguably safer than present credit card and PayPass arrangements.

The 19th century French writer Victor Hugo when observed that in life there is absolutely nothing so potent as an concept whose time has come. Putting our reluctance aside, it appears that secure mobile payments is an idea whose time has arrived.

David Tuffley does not operate for, consult to, personal shares in or acquire funding from any firm or organisation that would benefit from this write-up, and has no relevant affiliations.

This article was initially published on The Conversation.
Study the original write-up.

Apple Spend heralds a new, safe era of cashless convenience

How safe are your car’s tyres? MiWay offers a checklist for maintenance tips

Keeping safe on the road is not only about being an alert and cautious driver, it is also about making sure that your car is always in tip-top condition. An essential part of that is ensuring that your tyres are in a roadworthy condition – after all, the tyres are the point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Worn tyres reduce the performance of your car and low tread depths decrease the effectiveness of braking, steering, and even accelerating – all of which are important in staying safe on the road. Moreover, in wet weather, tread depth plays a crucial role in dispersing water to maintain a good grip.

Checklist for tyres

Tyres should be inspected on a regular basis. Here are some of the most important things to look out for:

• Check for punctures, penetrations, cuts and bulges.

• Cuts in the tyre could allow moisture to reach the casing plies. This is harmful for both textile and steel casings and will affect safety and tyre life.


• Uneven tyre wear is a sign that wheel alignment needs attention.


• Inner and outer edge wear. If both inner and outer edges are worn, it can suggest that the tyres have been run at a pressure which is too low at normal speeds.


• Irregular bald spot, also known as cupping – is usually caused by worn shock absorbers, a worn suspension, or even loose wheel bearings.


• Missing valve caps should be replaced, since they are there to prevent dirt from clogging the valves, which could cause loss in air pressure.


• Tighten wheel studs/nuts to the correct torque setting when mounting new tyres – also check for loose or missing wheel nuts.


• Check tread depth on all tyres and replace well before they reach the regulatory minimum depth of 1.00 mm.

Tyre pressure

Over or under inflation reduces the contact between the tyre and the road and also shortens the lifespan of your tyres. Make sure tyres are always inflated to the right pressure for your car. If you are not sure, check the Owner’s Manual or the display on the driver’s door side panel.

Don’t forget to also check that your spare wheel is in good shape, too, including a properly inflated tyre and that you have the correct tools to replace it. You never know when you might need it!

Maintaining your car’s tyres

• Make sure the size and speed/loading ratings of your tyres conform to the specifications in the Owner’s Manual.


• Check tyres and rims for any accidental damage after impacting with potholes/curb stones or other obstacles in the road.


• Be sure to have your tyres, brakes, shock absorbers and rims checked when servicing the car.


• Car wheel alignment should be tested at regular intervals to obtain even tread wear and maximise lifespan of tyres.

Safety tip: If a tyre bursts, do not apply the brakes, rather use the gears to slow down the car. A sudden change in direction or braking on a flat tyre can result in loss of control. Rather risk losing one wheel than damaging more of your car!

Spare wheel safety

Your spare wheel is only designed to be a temporary solution and should never be a permanent replacement for regular wheels.

Remember, the 4 tyres on your car are some of the most important components on the vehicle and the only point of contact between you and the road. Always refer to the owner’s manual for all tyre pressure specifications and other related information. If you suspect any damage to the tyres – consult a tyre expert!

For more information on car insurance, visit www.miway.co.za

[By Rory Judd, MiWay head of online marketing]

MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no: 33970)

 Road Safety and Tyre Safety

How safe are your car’s tyres? MiWay offers a checklist for maintenance tips

Consider safety and how safe you will be protected when attending racing events!!

A regular visitor to the Arrive Alive website emailed us a video clip titled “Too much power in the wrong hands”. We would like to focus in this post on the need to consider safety by all spectators attending motor racing events!

It is of the utmost importance that we remain aware of the need to have proper protection between ourselves and the fast moving vehicles!

This is something that was also brought to our attention by Toyota Racing, urging spectators to find safe spots to view the drivers participating in cross country racing:

TIPS FOR SAFE SPECTATING

The opening event of the Donaldson Cross Country Championship, the RFS 450, is a spectator friendly event with 13 viewing points along the route.

The race is expected to draw a large number of cross country racing enthusiasts, and the Spectator Point Information and Travel Directions document provides precise information on how to access various spectator viewing points. Here are some additional tips to make your spectator experience safe and enjoyable.

• Drive carefully and obey all urban and suburban speed limits and traffic rules and regulations
• Obey all instructions from police, traffic officers and race officials
• Park in a safe place at spectator points and do not hinder competitors or other road users
• Keep children under supervision at all times
• Do not litter. Please keep our country clean

Very important as well:

• Stand behind effective Armco barriers or other protection.


• A temporary steel barrier may protect you at a cycling event but not at a motor racing event.


• A reflective tape is no protection!

Consider Safety -Think when Driving, Riding, Cycling or Walking in Traffic All the Time!!

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;

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Consider safety and how safe you will be protected when attending racing events!!

Consider safety and how safe you will be protected when attending racing events!!

A regular visitor to the Arrive Alive website emailed us a video clip titled “Too much power in the wrong hands”. We would like to focus in this post on the need to consider safety by all spectators attending motor racing events!

It is of the utmost importance that we remain aware of the need to have proper protection between ourselves and the fast moving vehicles!

This is something that was also brought to our attention by Toyota Racing, urging spectators to find safe spots to view the drivers participating in cross country racing:

TIPS FOR SAFE SPECTATING

The opening event of the Donaldson Cross Country Championship, the RFS 450, is a spectator friendly event with 13 viewing points along the route.

The race is expected to draw a large number of cross country racing enthusiasts, and the Spectator Point Information and Travel Directions document provides precise information on how to access various spectator viewing points. Here are some additional tips to make your spectator experience safe and enjoyable.

• Drive carefully and obey all urban and suburban speed limits and traffic rules and regulations
• Obey all instructions from police, traffic officers and race officials
• Park in a safe place at spectator points and do not hinder competitors or other road users
• Keep children under supervision at all times
• Do not litter. Please keep our country clean

Very important as well:

• Stand behind effective Armco barriers or other protection.


• A temporary steel barrier may protect you at a cycling event but not at a motor racing event.


• A reflective tape is no protection!

Consider Safety -Think when Driving, Riding, Cycling or Walking in Traffic All the Time!!

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;

;

Consider safety and how safe you will be protected when attending racing events!!