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IOL News
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Insurance claims surge as South Africa's crumbling roads turn driving into a professional sport
South Africa's roads are riddled with potholes, leading to a significant rise in insurance claims. Experts discuss the financial implications for motorists and the challenges of navigating damaged roads. Given the prevalence of potholes, sometimes craters, that dog South Africa's roads, perhaps Waze should stop warning drivers about them and let those behind the wheel know that the next stretch of road doesn't require a 4x4 to navigate. The sheer extent of the problem is shown by how many potholes are being filled. The latest information, from 2022, shows that the government's Operation Vala Zonke has filled almost 200,000 potholes: almost two-thirds of these are in Johannesburg. As Tando Ngibe, senior manager at Budget Insurance, said: 'Dodging potholes has increasingly become a professional sport, but doing so can, and sometimes does, result in car accidents. Even if hitting a pothole doesn't cause an accident, the damage incurred is significant.' Ernest North, co-founder of Naked Insurance, explained that the combination of ongoing heavy rains and storms has caused more extensive road damage than usual. 'Wet weather also makes it harder for drivers to spot potholes, especially when they're filled with water, increasing the risk of hitting one unexpectedly.' While the 2022 cost to fix a pothole was between R700 and R1 500 per square metre, depending on the size of the hole, car owners and insurance companies also face a financial burden. Santam's 2022/23 Insurance barometer – the latest available – found that two thirds of the 167 brokers it surveyed reported an increase in client claims, which was mostly attributed to loadshedding, failing infrastructure (potholes/poor road maintenance) and an increase in crime, with the addition of extreme weather on the commercial side. Ngibe told Personal Finance that a single patch of poor road can lead to punctures, tyre bulges, misalignment and imbalance, uneven tyre wear, cracked rims, damage to the undercarriage, compromised tyre walls, and blowouts. Although the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) told Personal Finance that it had actually seen claims drop between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years by 22%, insurance companies have somewhat different views. North says that claims have increased. 'We can confirm that we've seen a noticeable increase in pothole-related claims, particularly in Johannesburg'. Budget Insurance has also seen an increase. 'Over the past 12 months, we've noticed an increase in pothole-related claims, specifically in Gauteng, and given this trend, we urge motorists to make sure they are insured for such damage, as the occurrence is common and can be expensive if not covered,' said Ngibe. Dotsure Insurance, however, said not all motorists are submitting claims, possibly due to the associated hassle, concerns about premium impacts, or not being aware that they have recourse or know how to claim. 'For those who regularly drive on damaged roads, tyre and wheel insurance can be a useful add-on. Whether it's worthwhile depends on your driving habits, location, and what's already covered under your main policy,' said North. North explained that it's important to note that most comprehensive car insurance policies don't cover tyre damage on their own if caused by potholes or other road hazards. 'You're typically only covered if the damage is part of a larger incident – for example, if your rims, axle, or suspension are also damaged at the same time.' It is worth looking at whether claiming will be in your best interests. North said if the damage is minor and repair costs are only slightly higher than your excess, it might make more financial sense to pay for the repairs yourself and avoid potential premium increases in the future. 'If you're not claiming through your insurer, you can submit a claim directly to your municipality if the pothole was on a national road. This can be a good option when the damage is less than your insurance excess,' said North. The JRA said that people who have suffered a financial loss as a result of a pothole can submit a claim. In its response to questions submitted by Personal Finance, it explained that it has a claim form (JRA Claim Form) available on its website. However, JRA notes that not all the roads within the city are covered by the City, as some roads are covered by other entities, SANRAL or the Gauteng Provincial Department of Roads and Transport. 'Once the claim is registered, the claim is ordinarily referred to Regional Operations (RO) for an investigation. RO would investigate the matter, compile a report, and submit it to JRA's legal department. The report will assist in confirming jurisdiction, and only at this stage that issues of jurisdiction be confirmed,' it said. After the claim is verified as genuine, it is escalated for processing, which is done within four weeks, provided all the required information and documents are submitted. 'If a claim is found to be fraudulent, such a claim will be rejected. JRA discourages motorists from submitting fraudulent claims as this is a criminal offence and if caught, could lead to jail time,' said the roads agency. North's guide for information needed to submit claims to municipalities: The exact location of the incident Photos of the pothole and the damage to your car Contact details for any witnesses A photo of the police incident report A copy of your driver's licence, vehicle registration documents, and ID Three repair quotes A letter from your insurer confirming you are not lodging a claim with them as well Each municipality has its process. PERSONAL FINANCE
IOL News
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Easter road safety: Budget Insurance highlights alarming trends
Budget Insurance is sounding the alarm on the growing risks South Africans face on the country's roads during the busy Easter travel season. With families preparing to reunite, congregations gathering for religious celebrations, and road traffic volumes set to spike, the stakes for road safety are at an all-time high. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Easter is a special time in South Africa — it's about connection, community, and celebration,' says Tando Ngibe, Senior Manager at Budget Insurance. 'But year after year, it's also one of the deadliest periods on our roads.' Insights from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) paint a sobering picture: human factors — including reckless driving, fatigue, speeding, and distracted driving — were responsible for 94.6% of fatal crashes during Easter 2024 and 92.6% in 2023. 'The numbers don't lie — driver behaviour is the leading cause of these tragedies,' Ngibe stresses. Budget's claims data also reveals that accidents during the Easter period follow a predictable but worrying pattern. Most crashes occur between 9 pm and 10 pm, as fatigue and diminished visibility set in, with an unexpected spike at 11 am — a time when many travellers are mid-journey or rushing to reach their destinations. 'These trends are unique to Easter and should be a wake-up call for all road users,' says Ngibe. But the Easter travel story doesn't end at the accident scene — many families find themselves stranded without a suitable vehicle due to inadequate insurance coverage. Budget Insurance notes that when it comes to car hire cover, there are two major gaps: Customers who don't have car hire cover on their policies but need a vehicle while theirs is under repair. A mismatch between the customer's usual car and the type of replacement vehicle they've selected on their policy. Ngibe advises drivers to review their insurance policies before hitting the road: Ensure you have the right insurance cover in place to protect you should the unexpected happen Make sure car hire cover is active — especially if you don't have a spare car at home. Ensure the car hire option matches your lifestyle — if you drive an SUV, select a similar size as your backup. Plan your trips wisely to avoid peak accident hours and very importantly, factor in rest stops. 'Driving during the Easter holidays is more than a journey — it's a responsibility,' says Ngibe. 'Let's not allow human error or poor planning to overshadow this season of togetherness. South Africa's roads can be safer, but it starts with each of us making better choices behind the wheel and in our insurance cover. Let's make road safety, and pre-planning for a safer trip, as much a part of our Easter tradition as the celebrations themselves.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
So your car is in the ditch; what now?
DES MOINES, Iowa — On Thursday the Iowa State Patrol lifted it's tow ban allowing tow trucks to retrieve cars that got stuck in ditches during Wednesday's winter storm. Tow trucking companies recommend that the first thing a driver does when their car ends up in a ditch is call the police. Sergeant Alex Dinkla with the Iowa State Patrol said the Iowa State Patrol will assist drivers who get stuck during winter storms. 'We will definitely send first responders out there, pick you up, take you to a safe location, whether that be a gas station or a hotel. But we want to get somebody nearby. We want to get you out of, out of harm's way,' Sergeant Dinkla said. After assistance from the Iowa State Patrol it is a driver's responsibility to have a tow truck retrieve their car. Andy Deboard, the President of Perry's Service and Towing, said tow companies are able to take driver's cars wherever is needed after they end up in a ditch. Iowa to see 3 more rounds of snow this week into next 'Some people just want to take them back to their house so they can actually see how bad it is. Some want it taken straight to their preferred body shop. Sometimes insurance companies will have body shops that they prefer to work with and your insurance company may advise you. You have the best shops to take it to, but we can really take it anywhere you want your car taken to,' Deboard said. Carlos Palacios, the Officer Manager at Budget Insurance, said after drivers call 911 and have their car towed it's important to contact insurance to start the claims process. 'After you've called the police and you know you're not on the side of the road anymore, that's when you want to call your insurance. Figure out first what coverage you have and how you can get a claim turned in,' Palacios said. Once drivers start a claim process they can find an autobody shop to provide repairs. Joey Tessman, the Owner of Joey's Auto Shop, said that drivers should look for experienced mechanics to work on their cars. 'You want to make sure that the shop understands what your problem is and that they're the best one to fix it for you. You know, having the right technicians trained, you know, will help the process along. Make sure that you get the repair done properly the first time,' Tessman said. The best way to avoid needing a tow truck is to stay off the roads during a winter storm. Iowa News: So your car is in the ditch; what now? New EV charging stations in Iowa halted, drivers face limited options Iowa House Republicans pass 2.25% funding increase for schools; Democrats warn of staff, tax implications Iowan eats 99 tenderloins across the state, reveals his favorite Bird flu detected in another Iowa turkey flock; disaster proclamation granted Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
