As the nation enters the second half of the countrywide Lockdown period, many people are sharing their experiences on social media and noting that they are getting “three weeks to the litre out of their cars”. These observations are injecting some well-timed light-heartedness in the midst of a challenging time for many consumers.

And while this is an amusing take, it does bring to mind that while you’re on Lockdown, your car still needs to be looked after. Here are some tips from leading vehicle mobility solutions provider, Cartrack, on what you can do to safe guard your vehicle from both crime and unnecessary maintenance time during lockdown.

Maintenance

Now is a good time to take care of those regular items that need to be checked, for example tyre tread, window wipers, oil and water levels and the battery. If you have removed the battery, remember to contact your telematics company so that they can put your vehicle in maintenance mode, and of course, inform them when you put the battery back in place.

If you don’t remove the battery, remember to start your car every few days to keep it charged and ready when you need it.

When checking the tyres, bear in mind that the spare tyre also needs to be checked and kept at the correct pressure in the event you ever need it. If you’re the Do-It-Yourself kind of person, you can also take this time to swap the front and back tyres to ensure a more even wear pattern.

Protection

Cartrack’s innovative CarWatch technology allows you to digitally arm your car against theft. Once parked, CarWatch is activated via the Cartrack App and will send an alert if the car moves. This is a great addition to a vehicle’s protection system; in the event the immobiliser is breached, you will still receive an alert that your car is no longer stationary.

Along with CarWatch, you can also add digital perimeters for your vehicles to travel in during Lockdown. If your vehicle enters an established high-risk zone, you can take the appropriate action to ensure that those you love most stay safe while on the road for their essential goods shopping.

If you are required to travel as an essential services worker during this time, use journey sharing technology so that your family knows where you are at all times. Be aware that with less cars and people around, you may be more susceptible to opportunistic criminals, so keep your doors locked, window a little bit open to prevent smash-and-grab incidents, and your valuables locked away out of sight.

Improve your driving behaviour

With fewer cars on the road, you can also take the time to find out where your driving weaknesses are and improve them while on the essential goods run. Cartrack’s mobile app can provide you with data on speeding, braking, idling and general harsh driving so that you can work on improving these when the Lockdown concludes. Changing your general driving habits can help you reduce your fuel use and save you money when it comes to managing the costs of wear and tear.

Cartrack thanks all South Africans who have stayed at home, reduced their contact with others and gone the extra mile to curb the spread of the Coronavirus and COVID-19.