Press Releases
The Automobile Association (AA) advocates for consumer rights. It also provides useful information to consumers on all aspects of mobility and road use. Read our articles below for more information.
I need help choosing a product
Automobile Association and Essilor announce collaboration
Identifying uncorrected poor vision as a key road safety challenge, Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, and the Automobile Association (AA) have joined forces to launch a series of initiatives to improve road safety by improving road users’ vision. During the FIA World Conference, held from 29 April to 3 May 2019 at Sun City, The Automobile Association of South Africa, a member of...
Stronger oil brings fuel price woe
Rising international petroleum prices have resulted in South Africans facing substantially higher fuel prices in March. This is according to the unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The price of petrol is predicted to increase by around 73 cents a litre, diesel by 92 cents and illuminating paraffin by 74 cents. The Rand/US dollar exchange rate has worked...
Rand, oil squeeze fuel price
Fresh off substantial fuel price hikes in March, South Africans should brace themselves for further increases in April. This is according to the unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The projected basic fuel price increase is being billed as 98 cents for petrol, 70 cents for diesel and 63 cents for illuminating paraffin. But, increases to the fuel levies will...
Aarto Bill in its current form is flawed
In its current form, the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Bill, is cause for concern. The National Assembly earlier this month passed the Bill and sent it to President Cyril Ramaphosa to be signed into law. In principle, we are in favour of a demerit system for drivers, it is something we have always backed and supported even as far back as the 1960s when such a...
Massive fuel hike on the cards again
Strong oil prices and an ever-weakening Rand have combined to set up another massive fuel price hike. This is according to the unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. These increases will be compounded by rises in fuel taxes which come into effect in April. There will be an additional increase of 15 cents for the fuel levy and 5 cents for the RAF levy (which...
Petrol price ominous, diesel flat
Unexpectedly strong international fuel prices have raised the spectre of an unwelcome fuel price hike for petrol users at the end of April. This is according to the unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The current data suggests that petrol may increase by 56 cents a litre at the end of April, while diesel is showing a reduction of five cents and illuminating...
New Year’s cheer as fuel price set to drop
2019 will kick off with good news for motorists according to the unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund, showing a substantial drop across the board. Petrol is showing a reduction of around R1.00 a litre, with diesel down by R1.30 and illuminating paraffin dropping by R1.22. Should this decrease materialise, it will amount to a more than R2 decrease in the fuel...
Fuel price set for further drops
Further reductions in the fuel price may be on the horizon at the end of January according to the unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. Although the international price of crude oil has ticked up since its low of 1 January, the overall price is still lower than December's average, and this reflects in the current data. In addition, the Rand/US dollar exchange...
Another year of awful festive road death fatalities
The grim festive season road fatality statistics are a national disaster and a sad indictment of the total disregard road users have for their own and other peoples’ lives on our country’s roads. Preliminary statistics of the festive season road deaths released by Transport Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday (16 January 2019) show that 1 612 people died on South African roads between 1 December...
Mixed fuel picture for February
Petrol up, diesel down in February. This is according to the unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. International oil prices have reached a slightly higher plateau after climbing in the first half of January. Over the same period, the Rand has firmed gradually against the US dollar. It began the month at nearly R14.50 to the dollar and is current hovering around...
Child restraints are not a luxury, they’re a necessity
Older children who have outgrown their child restraint seats, but who are still too small for adult-sized seatbelts in vehicles, still need to be properly secured while travelling, although recent research suggests this isn’t happening. Findings from the Automobile Association’s (AA) Child Safety Seat Survey – conducted last year – also highlight that a quarter of motorists admit to not...
Fuel price reversal as oil strengthens
Recent reductions in the fuel price have been dealt a blow by a steady increase in international petroleum prices during the first half of February. This is according to the unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. Oil traded within a very tight band for most of January, but we have seen a steady uptick since February began. This trend has accelerated in the last...