Although a mechanical failure of the mind is often the leading cause of car crashes in South Africa, mechanical factors tallied up to 4% of the total number of fatal car crashes last year according to the State of Road Safety Report.
Percentage of fatalities per major contributory factor
| Year | Human Factor | Road & Environmental Factors | Vehicle Factors |
| 2019 | 86% | 9% | 5% |
| 2020 | 86% | 9% | 5% |
| 2021 | 85% | 11% | 4% |
Four per cent may seem to be a small number but it’s not! There were 10 611 fatal car crashes on our roads in 2021. That means that over 420 fatal car crashes were the result of car mechanical failures. To further compound the issue, this report only factors in fatal crashes. The NHTSA report that mechanical issues account for 35% of all motor-related vehicle crashes.
Five Mechanical Failures that Cause Fatal Car Crashes
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- Tyre troubles
- Bad brakes
- Steering struggles
- Head/Tail-light horrors
- Windshield wiper whoopsies
Tyre mechanical failures
According to the State of Road Safety Report, tyre bursts before crashes were the leading cause of mechanical failure-related crashes at 2,4% of the overall 4% in 2021. Tyre failure can cause a vehicle to spin out of control and collide with other vehicles on the road. Cars may roll over, veer off the road, or swerve into oncoming traffic.
Burst tyres:
Tyre bursts can happen for several reasons:
- worn-out tyres
- under- or over-inflated tyres
- punctured tyres
- drastic temperature changes.
Worn tyres:
Over time and distance, your tyres will lose their tread. Worn tyres are more likely to slip and require more braking distance. This results in less traction and can cause your car to slide uncontrollably, especially on wet roads.
Brake mechanical failures
Bad brakes are a major factor in rear-end collisions due to mechanical failure. The major contributing factors to brake-related crashes are:
- Worn or faulty brake lines
- ABS malfunctions
- Worn brake pads and discs
Regular inspection coupled with your car’s recommended maintenance schedule can alert you to any brake-related issues.
Steering mechanical failures
The third-most common critical reason for a car accident cited by the NHTSA was a combination of steering, suspension, transmission, and engine-related problems. This is the definition of a lethal combination.
Steering issues can be more difficult to document during the post-crash investigation. It is easy to spot worn brakes and tires, but it is more challenging to identify steering issues. Steering issues can cause a loss of control over a person's vehicle at the worst moments.
Therfore, routine maintenance checks are the best way to prevent steering, suspension, transmission, and engine-related issues that may cause avoidable car crashes.
Head/Tail-light mechanical failures
Broken headlights and taillights are especially dangerous in low-visibility conditions such as night-time, on foggy roads, and during storms. Broken vehicle lights make your car more difficult to see in the dark or during inclement weather, increasing your risk of getting rear-ended or sideswiped.
They are also useful on a clear day. Signal lights (also known as indicators) alert other drivers when you're about to change lanes or slow down for a turn. Without working them, your lane changes are made unannounced.
Conclusion
The best protection against car mechanical failures is regular vehicle maintenance. However, it's always wise to be ready, should an unforeseen mechanical glitch occur. An extended car warranty serves as a financial backup during unforeseen car breakdowns and other mechanical and electrical issues.
For peace of mind get a dotsure.co.za Extended Car Warranty quote today.
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