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Hijack prevention and safety tips
Road safety is incredibly important, but reckless drivers and potholes form only a part of the equation. Although not discussed enough, car hijackings are a serious issue in South Africa, and while there has been a decrease over the years, it's still a real threat.
Car hijackings and armed robberies are slowly decreasing in frequency, but the number of incidents is still worryingly high. According to the SAPS fourth quarter Crime Statistics 2024/2025, the first quarter of 2025 saw 4,533 incidents, and although this is a 15.1% decrease from the first quarter of 2024, it's still a concerning figure. It's also reported that Gauteng remains the focal point for these incidents, accounting for around 45%-55% of the nation's carjacking incidents, yet the numbers are on the rise in the Eastern and Western Capes. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
Times to watch out for
Such occurrences are seldom predictable, so it is crucial to remain aware of what is happening around you. Incidents may happen at any hour, with many motorists oblivious to midday attempts. Arrive Alive released a study in late 2024 revealing that most accidents happen on Fridays due to driver fatigue and end-of-week relaxation. High traffic times from 6am and between 4pm and 8pm seem to be more common, so traffic doesn’t mean you are safe; in fact, quite the opposite.
Most hijackings happen near victims' homes and are typically pre-planned, often taking place in driveways. This is normally due to the driver's false sense of security and being taken by surprise, so always be on the lookout.
Always watching
It may seem pedantic, but always having your head on a swivel or checking your mirrors in traffic is a good way of staying alert. Keep an eye out for a full car with wandering eyes in your direction and trailing cars opening doors. Also, keep a lookout for pedestrians walking between traffic. This can give you time to react. It's also a good idea to remind your passengers to keep their phones in their pockets at lower speeds, especially at night, to avoid drawing attention.
Safe driving practices
Unfortunately, these incidents are normally well-planned and will almost always surprise you. So, developing a few safe driving habits can help. Firstly, maintain a safe following distance in traffic. Yes, leaving a gap might cost you a few spots in gridlock, but leaving enough room to drive away is always a safe bet. A good rule to follow is that if you can't see the tar between you and the car in front of you, you are too close to turn into another lane.
I recommend a slower approach to red lights, a tip that has saved me twice. If you see the light ahead has just turned red, there is no need to race to a stop at the light. When the road is clear and the light has turned red, slow down immediately and slowly make your way to the traffic light. This decreases the amount of time you are stopped at the light and gives you plenty of time to assess your surroundings.
In my experience, I was driving alone and approached a traffic light at around 8pm. It turned red, so I slowed down immediately. I noticed three gentlemen standing by the robot, and when they saw I had slowed down, they started walking towards me. I saw them take a particular interest in the car and slowed down even more. At this point, I was a fair distance away from the lights, far enough to see the gentlemen without being boxed in. This gave me enough time to creep toward the robot until it turned green. Once it turned green, I put my foot down, and the gentlemen ran into the road to stop me. I avoided them and continued; however, I fear what might have happened if I hadn’t slowed down earlier.
Lastly, be aware of the surrounding cars. As I have previously mentioned, most attacks happen close to home or in your driveway. Be vigilant about who is following you. If you've noticed the same car behind you for a while, take a few additional turns on your way home, even a couple of loops in a neighbouring area. If you feel like you are being followed, call the police or your security provider, or drive to your nearest police station. The same stands for suspicious-looking parked cars near your destination, home, or parking lots when entering your vehicle. Never assume that you are always safe.
What to do if you are being hijacked
It’s a terrifying thought and one which we hope and pray will never occur, but if it does, here’s what you need to know, according to the pros at CarTrack. Firstly, do exactly what the hijacker demands. Trust me, you are terrified in this environment, and likely, so is the hijacker. For the most part, they only want your possessions and your car. All of your belongings can be replaced, but your life cannot. Secondly, try to remain calm and avoid provoking your attacker or making any sudden movements. This could make the attacker panic and act in the heat of the moment. Furthermore, don’t look them in the eyes; this could be considered a threat.
Leave your possessions; these can be replaced, and reaching for them will only aggravate the attacker further. And lastly, try to remain as calm as possible under the circumstances. The attacker doesn’t want to hang around, so be calm, listen to instructions, grab your children carefully if need be, exit the car and get to a safe spot. It is normally over quickly.
Other preventive measures
While no amount of data can predict or stop an attack, there are a few other ways to be safer and better prepared. Firstly, some insurers install trackers on your vehicle; if you don’t have a tracker, it’s a good idea to get one installed. This improves the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle, and if you happen to be taken with the car, it improves the odds of being found. Secondly, share your live location with loved ones. If you have a family, apps such as Life360 provide the most recent whereabouts of your loved ones.
It can happen to anybody, but there are favourites.
While some hijackings happen at random, they do target more specific models, so here are the top ten cars that are targeted according to a recent study in May by Gauteng News, starting with the Toyota Hilux, Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Fortuner in the top three positions as most frequently hijacked vehicles. Fourth is the Ford Ranger, fifth is the Nissan NP200, sixth is the BMW 3 Series with the Toyota Quantum ranking seventh. The list continues with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in eighth, the Hyundai H1 in ninth and lastly the Audi A3.
These cars are among South Africa's bestsellers, so their frequency is likely due to their abundance on the road and some being stripped for parts.
As beautiful as our nation and its people are, we do have a concerning hijacking rate. So it's imperative to equip yourself when you are out on the roads. Unfortunately, this can happen to anyone at any time.
