What's Happening?

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

NEED HELP? QUESTIONS@FIA.ORG.ZA

become A FIA member TODAY
member login

Stay connected and safe on the road

ARTICLE BY

  • Netstar

SHARE THIS POST

With a host of safety risks on South African roads, motorists need to take ownership of their own protection – and one of the most effective ways of doing so is by staying connected throughout your journey.

Stolen-vehicle-recovery company Netstar, a subsidiary of Altron, has the following tips for keeping your car, your belongings and your loved ones safe from harm.

Stay aware – Pay full attention to the road, following traffic and your surroundings. Avoid “zoning out”, or being distracted by music, podcasts or your phone. It’s about staying connected to your environment. This is especially important in low-speed environments or when you come to a stop – at traffic lights, or the entrances to buildings.

Choose your route carefully – Use a navigation app to plan the optimal route for your journey. This helps to minimise your time on the road. Avoid known hijacking hotspots where possible. Business owners can use fleet intelligence software and services to identify the best routes for their drivers.

Get vehicle tracking – If you, your family or one of your colleagues goes missing, tracking and stolen-vehicle recovery technology will locate your vehicle. This can make all the difference in protecting lives and recovering property. The latest app-based products allow family members to follow their loved-ones’ journeys and react if anything seems out of the ordinary.

Have a panic app or button – Look for an app-based emergency-response service that allows you to easily send a panic alert for armed or medical response. Shake-to-call and event-video functionality are even more effective – allowing you to make a call by simply shaking your phone and to automatically record an incident. In a crisis, you might not be able to make a phone call.

Share your numbers – Memorise the numbers of those close to you. Store your tracking-company helpline number on another device. Alternatively, share the number with a loved one. That way, if you lose your phone, you can still get help when you need it.

Get impact-detection – Some telematic vehicle-tracking devices can detect impacts and immediately alert tracking companies, without the driver even having to make a call. This can help protect against car-theft methods such as the “bumper-bashing” method, where criminals get you to stop after bumping your car, or when hijackers try to box your vehicle in.

Get networked – Having a tracking company at your service also gives you access to a nationwide network of security companies and first responders. Build a digital network to ensure you can get help wherever you are – and whenever you need it.

Avoid remote jamming – Car thieves use jamming devices to stop your remote from locking your vehicle at malls and other public spaces. Jamming-detection technology is available to warn you if your vehicle has not been locked. Look out for this feature when choosing a tracking provider.

Stay alert, stay connected and stay safe!

Subscriber Terms and Conditions

  1. APPLICATION OF TERMS
    • These terms and conditions (“Subscriber Terms”) apply to the subscription by any qualifying member of the South African Underwriting Managers Association NPC (“SAUMA”) to the services and benefits offered by FIA Services (Pty) Ltd (“FIA Services”) under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement (“Subscription”).

  2. NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION
    • A Subscription under this arrangement:
      • does not constitute membership of FIA NPC;
      • does not confer any voting rights or governance participation in FIA NPC; and
      • is governed solely by the contractual relationship between the Subscriber and FIA Services.

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    • To qualify for the Subscription, the applicant must, at the time of application, be a current paid-up member of SAUMA.
    • FIA Services will verify the applicant’s SAUMA membership status with SAUMA prior to activation, and may re-verify such status periodically.
    • If a Subscriber ceases to be a paid-up member of SAUMA, the Subscription will correspondingly be terminated.
    • Applicants are required to authorise FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA as part of the application process.

  1. SERVICES
    • The Subscription entitles the Subscriber to the following benefits:
      • Complimentary access to the FIA CPD Platform;
      • Complimentary access to the FIA Insight Magazine (digital edition);
      • Advertising opportunities on FIA platforms at a discounted rate of 15% (fifteen percent) off the prevailing published rates; and
      • Invitations to attend FIA Technical Webinars annually.
    • FIA Services reserves the right to update, vary or substitute the Services from time to time, provided that the overall value and nature of the benefits remain materially the same.

  1. FEES AND PAYMENT
    • The monthly subscription fee is R260.00 (two hundred and sixty rand) for up to seven registered individuals (Key Individuals and Representatives), and R36.00 (thirty-six rand) per additional registered individual thereafter, excluding VAT.
    • The Subscriber shall provide FIA Services with the required details of each individual to be registered under the Subscription for the purposes of activation and billing.
    • All fees are exclusive of VAT, which shall be charged at the prevailing statutory rate.
    • Subscription fees are reviewed annually in March and may be adjusted with effect from 1 April.
    • Any changes to the Subscription, including but not limited to the number of Representatives and Key Individuals registered under the Subscription, may only be effected once annually during the annual review period in March of each year, with such changes taking effect from 1 April.
    • Subscription fees shall be billed monthly in arrears, unless the Subscriber elects an annual billing cycle at the time of application.
    • The Subscriber shall ensure that all billing information (including contact details, authorised signatories and bank account details) is kept accurate and up to date.
    • Non-payment of subscription fees may result in suspension of access to the Services until such fees are brought up to date.
    • The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that all subscription fees payable under these Subscriber Terms may be collected by way of debit order, which shall be processed by the holding company, FIA NPC (The Financial Intermediary Association of South Africa), on behalf of FIA Services. Payment to FIA NPC shall be deemed to constitute valid and sufficient discharge of the Subscriber’s payment obligations to FIA Services under these Subscriber Terms.

  1. ONBOARDING
    • Onboarding will be conducted as a Subscription with FIA Services under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement.
    • Onboarding will not confer FIA NPC membership status or any associated rights.
    • Onboarding is conditional on confirmation of the Subscriber’s current SAUMA membership at the time of application

  1. DATA PROTECTION
    • FIA Services will process all personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) as set out in our POPIA policies.
    • By subscribing, the Subscriber authorises FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA and to process personal information for the purposes of fulfilling the Subscription.

  1. TERMINATION
    • The Subscriber may terminate the Subscription by giving FIA Services one calendar month’s written notice.
    • FIA Services may terminate the Subscription on one calendar month’s written notice, or immediately if the Subscriber breaches these Subscriber Terms and fails to remedy such breach within 14 (fourteen) days of receiving written notice.
    • Termination of the SAUMA–FIA Services affiliation agreement shall not automatically terminate these Subscriber Terms.
    • Termination by the Subscriber shall not relieve the Subscriber of liability for any subscription fees accrued up to the effective date of termination.
    • FIA Services may suspend or terminate the Subscription with immediate effect in the event of non-payment of fees by the Subscriber.

  1. GENERAL
    • These Subscriber Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Any disputes arising under these Subscriber Terms shall be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in the FIA NPC membership terms and conditions, as modified to reflect that the contractual relationship is with FIA Services.
    • Any notices required under these Subscriber Terms may be validly delivered by email to the addresses provided in the Subscriber’s application form, and such notices shall be deemed received on the day of transmission if sent during business hours.
    • The Subscriber may not assign, cede or transfer any of its rights or obligations under these Subscriber Terms without the prior written consent of FIA Services.
    • No variation of these Subscriber Terms shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by both FIA Services and the Subscriber.