Summer Safety with Beame: Preparing Your Car for a Holiday Trip
South Africans love a good summer road trip, but safety starts long before you turn the ignition. These quick and practical tips to prepare your car for a holiday trip will make every kilometre easier. While you’re at it, this is a great time to run checks and updates with Beame, too, because your Beame goes wherever you go.
Simple, smart, sorted — exactly how holiday prep should feel.
Why Summer Travel Safety Matters
Even the most exciting road trip comes with responsibility. Summer holidays in SA mean busy highways, unpredictable weather, and long stretches between help points. Doing basic checks before you leave helps prevent avoidable breakdowns (or worse) and gives you confidence that your Beame is primed to work when it matters most.
A good first step: update your Beame details, more on this below. Learn more about Beame’s core recovery service on our blog: Vehicle Recovery, Simply Sorted.
Do a 360 Walk-Around to Spot Potential Hazards
A 360 walk-around is one of the simplest and most effective ways to catch a problem early.
It takes less than two minutes, yet it can prevent delays, breakdowns, and unsafe driving conditions.
1. Start at the Front
Walk up to your vehicle from the front. Look at the bumper, grill, headlights, and windscreen. Check for chips, cracks, or anything lodged in the wipers. A small windscreen chip can spread quickly in the summer heat.
2. Move to the Passenger Side
As you walk along the side, take note of:
- Tyre condition. Look for cuts, bulges, or uneven wear.
- Tyre pressure. A visibly low tyre needs immediate attention.
- Side mirrors. Ensure the casing is secure and the mirrors are clean.
Look along the ground as well. Any fresh oil, water, or mysterious drips deserve a closer look before travelling hundreds of kilometres.
3. Check the Rear
The back of the vehicle is often ignored, yet it contains crucial components:
- Tail lights, brake lights, and indicators.
- Towbar, if fitted, and electrical sockets for trailers or caravans.
- Boot latch. Make sure it closes securely, especially when packed to the roof.
If you have a trailer or boat, walk around that too. Loose straps or half-secured hatches can become very real hazards on the highway.
4. Walk Up the Driver’s Side
Repeat the same checks on the passenger side. Touch each tyre to feel the temperature after a long stop. An unusually warm tyre can signal a slow puncture.
5. Finish with a Cabin Check
Look inside the vehicle for:
- Visibility issues, such as dusty windows or clutter on the dashboard.
- Smart tag batteries, USB cables, and navigation setup.
- Clear footwells so nothing rolls under your pedals.
Doing this before departure can save you from roadside drama later and make your road trip smoother.
How Beame Supports You
Your Beame is always working quietly in the background, ready to help with stolen-vehicle recovery across South Africa. But there’s more!
Beame bulges with extra benefits to keep you and your family safe. Beame Assist includes services to ensure that your car is fully compliant before you head off:
- Licence Assist. A unique service that is designed to take the hassle out of licence disc renewals. It also provides a quick, easy and painless channel to renew your licence with the added benefit of having your licences delivered to you.
- Motor Advisor. A telephonically ‘driven’ advise line facilitated by a panel of Industry Experts to provide an Action/Advisory Service on various important aspects off vehicle ownership or motoring concerns. Our service provider’s panel of experts will ensure that, through independent expertise and the power of collective bargaining, members will receive the most cost-effective solutions.
MyPanic gives you 24-hour armed security and medical assistance at the touch of a button. In case of an emergency, simply press and hold the ‘HELP’ button in the app to activate a panic alert. we will dispatch Emergency Medical or Armed Responders to your exact location.
The Most Vital Pre-Check of All: Update your Beame contact and recovery info
Fortunately, you can perform these steps immediately from anywhere. And we recommend you do it right away.
1. It’s all in the details.
In the hustle and bustle of life, things change. This could be your vehicle registration number or other personal particulars from when you signed up. Please ensure your details are up to date so we can help in an emergency.
Choose from any of these convenient options:
Email: customercare@beame.co.za
Submit A Contact Form here
Send us an inbox message on the official Beame Facebook page.
2. Perfectly powered up.
Double-check your Beame battery power. Simply WhatsApp (send ‘Hi to 087 240 6262’) or check on the app.
Similarly, please ensure that you test the device monthly as per the Beame T&C’s via WhatsApp or via the app.
Want more?
Read about safe driving in bad weather or preventing driver fatigue on long trips.
