Does your eyesight affect your driving ability?

The majority of South Africans are aware of the various risks associated with driving and the signifcant number of deaths on our roads. News24.com* reported over 1 370 fatal road accidents on South African roads between 1 December 2013 and 7 January 2014”.

 

One of the risks associated with driving is poor eyesight. This is one of the reasons why the South African traffic department requires drivers to renew their vehicle licence every five years. Although poor eyesight is more common among older drivers, younger drivers may also be at risk if they have not checked their eyesight. 

 

Arrive Alive reports that clear and comfortable vision allows you to be able to gauge distances, read road signs, and respond to changing traffic environments quickly. Visual impairments can negatively affect your concentration on the road, which puts you and your fellow road users at risk. Some of the symptoms of deteriorating eyesight include eye irritation/ dryness, sensitivity to light, headaches and eye strain. A responsible driver will have their eyes checked regularly to ensure safe driving.

 

Derek Wilson, Head of the online insurance and financial comparison website, Hippo.co.za, says, “Not only can bad eyesight threaten your life, if it results in you being involved in a vehicle accident, it could affect your insurance profile and ultimately your premium. Consumers do not always recognise the risk and potential of paying more for vehicle insurance should they be involved in a car accident.” Driver’s should therefore consider visiting an optometrist at least once a year to check their eyesight.

 

“Other check-ups, which can be done more frequently through online comparisons are your insurance policies,” says Wilson.

 

Hippo.co.za offers free to use cost and benefit comparisons for various financial products such as vehicle and home insurance, medical aid cover, personal loans, travel insurance and more. Recent research has shown that at least 8 out of 10 customers have saved an average of R348 per month* on their car and home insurance.”

 

Established in 2007, hippo.co.za is South Africa’s leading comparison website that helps consumers save money by comparing a range of SA providers across financial products such as car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, medical and more. Hippo is free to use and saves consumers the time and hassle of shopping around for the best deal since the Hippo.co.za website instantly retrieves real-time quotes from the different providers using the latest Internet technology. At least 8 out of 10 people could save an average of R427* per month on their car insurance.

Hippo.co.za makes money by simply charging its partners a fee when a customer chooses to find out more about their products. The results consumers see, and the order in which they are presented, is in no way influenced by the fee hippo.co.za charges its partners or any other factors other than the price of the product being compared. 

 

For more information, visit us on www.hippo.co.za, connect with Hippo on LinkedIn, http://www.linkedin.com/company/hippo-comparative-services-pty-ltd/, like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/HippoSA, and follow us on Twitter @Hippo_co_za and YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/hippocompare.

 

Hippo Comparative Services (Pty) Ltd is an authorized financial services provider (FSP number: 16357).

 

*Based on a representative market research survey conducted by Kaufman Levin Associates, on behalf of Hippo.co.za in May 2014.  Risk Profile Dependent.


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