Hijackings increase 10% year on year

Road safety continues to remain a key issue in South Africa, with hijackings and theft of vehicles still on the increase. According to Gavin Kelly, technical and operations manager of the Road Freight Association, based on statistics received from the South African Police Service, hijackings have increased by at least 10% year on year for the past three years. “One cannot really ensure safety, but training of drivers is important. It is not prudent to train them to resist, but to be aware and not place themselves in vulnerable situations.” This includes not stopping at unsafe, secluded or isolated locations, not offering lifts to strangers, and generally being aware of being tailed or followed, while driving in generally safe times. It is also important that vehicle owners track their cargo and vehicles at all times. According to safety experts it is important for owners to keep themselves updated on the way criminals operate and train their drivers to know what to do when under attack. In 2008 police statistics showed that truck hijackings had soared to 1 245 from 892 incidents in 2006/07, an increase of 39.6%. According to the SAPS, truck hijackings are very much organised crime involving syndicates where more often than not the cargo or freight is the target. This view is shared by the Institute for Security Studies who say that truck hijacking far more than car jacking is an organised crime executed by highly skilled criminals. Research by the organisation has shown that criminals involved in truck hijackings are far more prepared and ready not only to ensure the vehicle is effectively disposed of, but also near impossible to find. They advise truck drivers to ensure they are using routes that are safe and to keep up to date with hijacking trends.