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.
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Fuel set to jump on Rand, oil woes
Unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) is forecasting a sharp jump in fuel prices at the end of November. This is according to the Automobile Association, which says that motorists cannot expect much respite from a weakening domestic picture. The Rand is testing one-year lows against the US dollar. In addition, there have been heavy increases in...
Global NCAP and AA South Africa launch #SaferCarsforAfrica
Global NCAP and AA South Africa launch #SaferCarsforAfrica Global NCAP and AA South Africa launch #SaferCarsforAfrica today (22) in Cape Town, with the first independent crash test assessment of some of South Africa’s most popular compact and small cars. The crashworthiness results of the five cars tested show a wide range of safety performance, from four to zero stars for adult protection, with...
Fuel price blues as oil, Rand bite
Sharp movements in international petroleum prices have combined with a weakening Rand to push fuel prices higher for December. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), commenting on unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF). Oil has continued the strong run we have seen throughout November and the trend remains upwards. The Rand has followed a...
See and be seen! Daytime running lamps
Visibility is key to reaction time; it is critical to see and be seen. That’s why daytime running lamps are a compulsory standard of so many European countries, and not reliant on a driver’s judgement on when to switch on headlamps in varying light conditions. Daytime running lamps are not compulsory in South Africa. Regulation 161 A (1) states that they may be fitted to any motor vehicle except...
Exhaust smoke – an engine’s distress signal
Diesel or petrol engine exhaust gases should be colorless. Any smoke colour emanating from an exhaust signals that it is not running properly, or even close to mechanical failure. What do exhaust smoke emissions really mean? Black smoke is a sign of engine over-fueling. This can be a malfunctioning injector, a restricted air supply or clogged intercooler. For a sound technical reason, excess...
Change of behaviour needed to curb shocking annual fatality numbers
Since the start of December, road crashes around the country have claimed the lives of many people, including ten people who died when the taxi they were travelling in collided with cows in Mbombela last Friday. The current situation, is untenable, and it urges all motorists to change their behaviour ahead of the expected festive season traffic rush. Every day seems to bring another story of a...
Weather and holidays impact fleet safety
It is that time of the year when road traffic deaths are measured and compared to previous years over the December festive season. However, the annual road traffic crash statistics set an alarming background that cannot be ignored – that latest figures at hand from a 2015 CSIR report indicate that over 1,7 million South Africans are involved in more than 832 thousand road traffic crashes (RTC)...
Dealing with flash floods
Although flash floods are rare, when they occur, they can wreak havoc. Yesterday’s floods again show how quickly a torrent can occur, and the extreme dangers it holds. We urge all motorists caught up in floods to follow some basic rules to negotiate the safest route out of these situations. The most important factor in dealing with floods is trying to avoid them in the first place. The South...
Rand offsets fuel price gains
Softer international petrol prices have been offset by a declining Rand since the start of October, while diesel and illuminating paraffin prices were slightly up, leaving them with no protection against Rand weakness. This is according to the unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The landed price of petrol has dropped by almost 20 cents a litre since the start...
Safety features still lacking on entry-level vehicles
The Automobile Association (AA) today released its second annual Entry-Level Vehicle Safety Report that assess the safety features on entry-level vehicles. The report considered the safety features of 25 vehicles available in South Africa currently priced under R160 000. This is R10 000 (6.7%) more than the vehicles considered last year to account for an increase in inflation. According to...
Mixed picture as fuel set to rise
Across-the-board losses from the exchange rate are set to hit fuel consumers at the end of October The landed price of petrol actually dropped by around 18 cents a litre in October, while the landed price of diesel showed a slight increase of five cents. But, the Rand slipped around 22 cents to the US dollar, meaning all grades of fuel will be more expensive in November. Petrol will rise a...
Ready for the holiday season?
October is a pivotal point of the year for many establishments. Make sure you are ready to cope with the rush as the year hurdles to a close by using our tips to get started early on your countdown. Remember that guests need to be able to find you so fine-tune the directions to your establishment. Get the festive feeling started by being well organised about staff leave and overtime. And when...
