Vehicle Security and Safety Tips Page

Protecting against vehicle theft

Car theft in New Zealand is a significant threat to your vehicle and it is important that you take a few precautions in order to help keep your vehicle and its contents safe.

Remove your keys from the ignition. This is common sense, but not doing so is an open invitation to car thieves.
Never leave your car running unattended — not even in your driveway — no matter how quick the errand.
Don't leave spare keys in the car or in hiding spots; experienced thieves know even the best hiding places.
Lock your doors and close your windows. Never leave valuables such as wallets, hand bags, cell phones, or other items in plain view as this is an open invitation for opportunistic theft.
Most cars have a built-in steering lock. Ensure you use it whenever your car is unattended.
Keep your credit cards, cheque books, driver’s licence and other important documents in your wallet or purse instead of the glove compartment. If a thief has access to these items, it will make it significantly easier for them to sell your stolen vehicle.
Be choosy where you leave your vehicle, always think security. Park your locked vehicle in a locked garage. If you have no garage, consider investing in some security lighting outside near the parking area. If you must park on the street, select safe, well-lit areas and park with the front wheels turned sharply to the curb. This makes it difficult for thieves to tow your car. In the driveway, park facing the street so anyone tampering with the car is more noticeable. Put the emergency brake on and leave the transmission in Park. Manual transmissions should be left in gear

You might also like to think about installing an alarm, or alternatively, a device which will immobilise you vehicle if anyone interferes with it. There are already a number of these devices available, such as removable steering wheels and locks which prevent the gear shift being engaged. GPS tracking devices can also be a very effective way to improve your chances of recovering the vehicle if stolen.

Visit one of our preferred alarm specialists at www.autowatch.co.nz.

You can read more helpful vehicle security tips by visiting the New Zealand Police website.

What to do if you have an accident

No matter how good your driving is, accidents on the road do happen. We have put together a guide to what you should do after an accident,
which can help minimise the additional stress of sorting everything out following the incident.

These are the steps to take if an accident occurs and you are part of it.

Stop immediately and give whatever assistance you can to anyone injured.
Accidents happen. Try to stay calm and don't lose your temper. Don't admit blame at the scene of the accident or offer any form of settlement. Your admission could affect your insurance claim!
If an injury has occurred, report the accident to the Police, the nearest office of the Ministry of Transport's Road Transport Division, or the Local Body Traffic Department within 24 hours.
If there's no injury, you must still give your name and address to the owner or driver of any other vehicle damaged and to the owner of any property damaged.
Make sure you get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of drivers involved in the accident and also the names and addresses of their insurance companies and their policy numbers (if available). Other things to note are the make and model of vehicles involved, their colour, registration number and any damage resulting from the accident.
If you don't know the name of the driver or owner, report the accident to the Police within 48 hours.
If anyone refuses to give essential information, make a note of their registration number and report the matter to the Police. Call the Police immediately if you suspect that any driver involved has been drinking.
Check road names and features so that you can make a rough sketch of the scene.
Note down the names and addresses of any witnesses and the names and numbers of any police officers in attendance.
Telephone our free helpline number 0800 506 506 IMMEDIATELY. We will take down the details of the accident and arrange for a claim form to be sent to you immediately.

If required, an assessor can also telephone you with help and advice. The assessor can arrange for a damaged vehicle to be rescued and towed to a repairer or panel beater of your choice or to a storage yard.

Safer driving guide

Driving is a skill that can always be improved. If you are planning a long journey in the car, here are some hints for safer motoring:

Plan your trip well in advance. Consider the time of day that you're travelling and the route you plan to take. When driving, you need to pay maximum attention to road conditions and you can't do this if you're too busy looking at maps and worrying about exactly where you are.
Before setting off, check your vehicle's oil, water, windscreen washer fluid and tyres.
Plan stops along the way but DON'T use your stops for drinking alcohol. To avoid becoming too tired, you should aim to take a break from driving every two hours.
At all times, try to place your vehicle where your safety is not determined by other drivers. You want to be in control. This means you need a place to head if danger appears. When driving, this is called looking for "space cushions," places where you can go in order to avoid collisions.
Think up some activities to entertain passengers (particularly children) to stop them distracting you. DON'T choose activities which involve too much reading as the eyes-down position can cause car-sickness.
Try to keep up with the traffic flow but keep your distance. Remember the "two second rule". As the vehicle ahead of you passes a fixed object such as a power pole, start counting "one thousand, one hundred and one, one thousand, one hundred and two". If you pass the fixed object before you've said "two", you're travelling too close.
If you are being tailgated, indicate and move to the left of the carriage way. It is perfectly legal to do so.
If towing, keep a constant look-out at what's happening behind and take every opportunity to let faster vehicles pass you. You might be surprised at just how courteous these drivers can be. Don't say to yourself "once I get over this hill I can get up to 120kph". The vehicles behind you will be able to travel at a steady speed whether they are going downhill or up.
Never assume another driver will do something unless you are certain he or she will do so. On motorways, where improper lane changes are one of the most frequent causes of serious accidents, and on two-lane roads, where vehicles going the other direction are frequently passing slower vehicles, USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS. Yes, turn your lights on. This helps other drivers notice you. In fact, you may want to use your headlights in nearly all driving situations, as do many professional drivers
When travelling in a stream of vehicles, DON'T suffer from "highway hypnosis". If you follow the car in front of you blindly, you are placing reliance on the reaction time of the person driving it. By constantly scanning the road ahead and to the side for yourself, you can anticipate and react to potential hazards even before the car in front has seen them.
If you haven't read the Road Code for some years, a good look at an up-to-date version may be beneficial. Visit the Land Transport website to review the Road Code.