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How to beat the N2 car thugs

Western Cape police say criminals are targeting motorists on the N2 highway and it's getting out of hand but there are ways to protect yourself - and your car.

Pat Curran, a traffic officer responsible for the highway stretch from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay, told a newspaper that criminals were sometimes obstructing the road to get drivers to stop.

"We're on the lookout on a daily basis but we don't know where it will happen next. It becomes a nightmare," Curran said.

WHAT TO DO...

Somerset West resident Trevor Rees was recently driving back home with his wife when he was forced to stop his car because the highway was littered with several large rocks and pieces of concrete.

"I swerved to avoid the largest piece but hit a smaller piece that caused the front right tyre to burst," Rees said. "I was then approached by two youths armed with screwdrivers who demanded my phone. I told them I was talking to the police when one of them attacked me, at which time I gave them the phone."

Grant McLeery of driver training academy Driving Dynamics and a police reservist who gives driver training to the Gauteng police service said awareness was the best weapon with which to combat such thugs.

...AND WHEN TO DO IT

McLeery said: "You need to look far enough down the road and, preferably, stop and do a U-turn before hitting the obstructions."

And if you don't react in time and do pick up a puncture?

"These criminals usually wait about 500m down the road and wait for your to stop to replace your tyre. If you do get a puncture, don't stop; don't worry about destroying your wheel and tyre, rather travel to a place of safety."
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