Braai Safety

Following Braai Day this week, we thought it very apt to take you through a few braai safety tips to help you keep you and your guests safe.

• As you are working with an open flame, make sure you have some sort of fire extinguisher plan, a bucket of sand, or a fire extinguisher on hand.
  
  
• Make sure the open flame is away from thatch or any other structure or item that may catch alight if the fire/braai where to change direction or fall over, or if a breeze were to pick up.
  
• Keep your braai and grill clean. Fat from cooking may fuel an already large flame.
  
• Smoke- this can be toxic, so make sure you are not breathing it in in large amounts. Especially be careful with children, their bodies are smaller and will deal with smoke differently to adults.
  
• Never leave a fire unattended, especially if there are young children and animals around.
  
• Oven gloves should be used when handling grills.
  
• Braai tools are essential, their longer reach allows you to safely work with the food without getting burnt- don’t try to use normal eating utensils to move food around on the grill.

Top 10 Safe Driving Tips (Cont.)

Last week we brought you tips 10 to 6 from our Top 10 Safe Driving Tips. This week we finish off the list with tips 5 to 1. So buckle up, look left & right, check your blindspots and let's get going.

5. Be Extra Careful in Bad Weather

If you're driving through thick fog, mist, heavy rain, a snow storm or on icy roads, be extra cautious. Drive below the speed limit and make sure you leave extra space between you and other vehicles.

If, for whatever reason, you have gone off the road, switch OFFf your lights. Should the weather not be very clear, when they see your lights, they'll drive towards you thinking you're driving on the road.

4. Don't Follow Too Closely

Always make sure there is enough space between you and the car ahead, leaving enough time for you to react should the car ahead come to a sudden stop or involved in a collission.

It's not always easy to recommend an exact distance, but experts recommend the "3 second rule".

3. Watch Out for the Other Guy

Unfortunately sometimes it doesn't matter how safely you drive, somebody else can always make an error and crash into you. Be prepared for unpredictable lane changes, sudden stops, swerving, unsignaled turns etc.

2. Practice Defensive Driving

Remember that one driver that came flying down the street out of nowhere, cut you off and almost caused a huge accident? We all know THAT GUY... don't be THAT GUY!

Aggressive driving is dangerous driving.


And our Number 1 Safe Driving Tip:

1. Keep Your Vehicle Safe

Vehicle maintenance isn't just a good way to extend your car's life - it's a major safety issue too!

Even though qualified mechanics service your vehicle, it's is still months between these services, so car owners need to be aware of any potential safety issues and get them repaired before they lead to an accident.


So there you have it, the Top 10 Safe Driving Tips. Use it, share it and make the roads we travel daily a safer place!

Top 10 Safe Driving Tips

Driving. An activity that a lot of us are involved in daily. Do we know how to perform this activity safely? We were taught the rights and the wrongs when going through classes and drivers tests, but how long ago was that? Do we still remember it all?

If some of  the questions above made you think a bit, then perhaps take a look at some of the safety tips below. Even if you are confident that you're a safe driver, it is always good to refresh your knowledge & skills.

So here are our Top 10 Safe Driving Tips:

10. Don't Drive Drunk

Most of the accidents on our roads is due to alcohol use. Intoxication reduces reaction time and coordination and lowers inhibitions, which can cause drivers to make foolish decisions.

If you have been drinking, rather ask a sober friend for a ride or call cab. With all the designated driver services available you really do not have an excuse!

9. Don't Speed

"Speed kills". Research shows that for every little bit faster you drive, the likelihood of your being in an accident increases by 4-5%.

Going fast may look like fun but it could cost a life, whether it be yours or someone elses.

8. Avoid Distractions

Texting or talking on your cell phone whilst driving is a big distraction that can reduce reaction time by up to 20%. Other activities such as eating, applying make-up, fiddling with electronic devices and interacting with passengers also divert driver's attention from the road.

"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel" Jim Morrison.

7. Don't Drive Drowsy

We may think that a few yawns doesn't mean anything, but just being a little tired, drowsy or fatigued can increase your risk of being in an accident. AT highway speeds, one or two seconds of inattention can lead to disaster.

The solution is simple: get a better night's rest. Make sure you regularly get a solid 8 hours sleep every night.

6. Wear Your Seatbelt

If worn properly, seatbelts can prevent you from being thrown around the inside of a crashing vehicle. Event at low-speeds, wearing a seatbelt will prevent from from being propelled into the dashboard or windows shoudl there be an accident.

We all hear stories of people who would have survived if they had not been wearing a seatbelt, but even if true, those stories are exaggerated and also anomilies.


There are tips 10 - 6 that you can think about and apply to your driving. See how many you can stick to. Next week we'll bring you tips 5- 1.