Long weekends often mean longer journeys, heavier traffic and vehicles carrying more passengers and luggage than they normally would. For motorists travelling to visit family, head away for a break or return home, the focus is understandably on reaching the destination. But what happens when the vehicle starts behaving differently along the way?
The latest road safety figures show why motorists cannot afford to become complacent. Recent road safety figures highlighted at the Road Safety Practitioners’ Colloquium on 2 September 2026 show why motorists cannot afford to become complacent.
A total of 6,457 people died on South African roads between 1 January and 23 August 2026, although road fatalities declined by 9% compared with the same period in 2025. More than a third of these fatalities were recorded in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, underscoring the continued need for greater road safety awareness and responsible driving.
While the figures reflect a much broader road-safety picture, they reinforce the importance of motorists taking responsibility for the condition of their vehicles and their own behaviour behind the wheel. A long-distance journey also provides a useful reminder that a vehicle can develop a problem after leaving home and recognising the early signs can make the difference between stopping safely and continuing towards a more serious problem.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience helping motorists maintain safe and roadworthy vehicles, here are five signs drivers should not ignore during a long-distance journey.
- Your steering wheel starts vibrating or shaking
A steering wheel that suddenly begins to vibrate is more than an annoyance. It can indicate an issue with wheel balance, alignment, a damaged tyre or another component affected by the road.
The important distinction is whether the vibration is new or becoming progressively worse. If the vehicle felt normal when you left and starts vibrating at certain speeds during the journey, motorists should not simply turn up the radio and carry on.
Where it is safe to do so, reduce speed gradually and pull over. Once stopped, inspect the tyres for obvious damage, bulges or a flat tyre. If the cause is not immediately apparent, the vehicle should be assessed at the nearest fitment centre or by a qualified technician before continuing.
- A warning light appears on the dashboard
Dashboard warning lights are there to alert drivers when something may require attention and they should not be ignored simply because the vehicle is still driving normally.
A temperature, oil pressure, brake or other critical warning light can indicate a mechanical or safety-related issue that needs immediate attention. Continuing to drive without investigating the warning could allow a minor problem to develop into a serious breakdown or potentially dangerous failure.
Drivers should familiarise themselves with the warning lights in their vehicle before setting out on a long journey. If a critical warning light comes on while driving, find a safe place to stop as soon as possible and avoid continuing the journey and seek professional assistance.
- You notice that your concentration is changing
Not every warning sign comes from the vehicle. On a long journey, the driver is just as important to the vehicle’s safety as its mechanical condition.
Research presented at the 2025 Southern African Transport Conference highlighted driver fatigue as an ongoing road-safety concern, particularly in long-distance transport, where extended driving periods and limited opportunities for rest can increase risk.
For motorists, the warning signs can be subtle: repeatedly yawning, struggling to remember the last few kilometres, missing road signs or finding it difficult to maintain concentration. These are not signs to push through simply because the destination is getting closer.
If concentration is deteriorating, the safest response is to stop in a safe location and take a proper break. The Department of Transport has also advised motorists undertaking long-distance journeys to stop every two hours or after 200 km to help combat fatigue.
- A new smell, noise or change in how the vehicle feels appears
Drivers become accustomed to the sounds and feel of their own vehicles, which means they are often the first people to notice when something changes.
A burning smell, unusual knocking, grinding, humming or squealing noise can indicate that a component is under stress or beginning to fail. The same applies if the brake pedal feels different, the steering becomes heavier or the vehicle feels less stable than it did earlier in the journey.
These changes should not be dismissed simply because the vehicle is still moving. A problem does not have to cause an immediate breakdown to require attention.
If the change is significant or continues, find a safe place to stop and have the vehicle assessed rather than attempting to complete the journey and dealing with it later.
- A tyre looks or feels different
Tyres can change during a journey, particularly when a vehicle is carrying a heavier load and travelling for several hours at sustained speeds.
A new thumping sound, a noticeable change in handling, a tyre-pressure warning or visible damage should prompt the driver to stop safely and inspect the tyre.
Look for a change in its shape, visible cuts or bulges, objects lodged in the tread or signs that it has lost pressure. If there is any doubt about the tyre’s condition, motorists should visit the nearest fitment centre for a professional assessment rather than assuming that simply adding air makes the tyre safe to continue using.
A tyre that has suffered damage during a journey may require more than an inflation top-up and driving on a damaged or under-inflated tyre can compromise vehicle control.
The important thing is knowing when to stop
Long-distance driving is not simply about getting a vehicle from one destination to another. It is about recognising that both the vehicle and driver are being exposed to conditions that may be very different from everyday driving.
Motorists know how their vehicles normally feel, sound and respond. That makes them the first people who can identify when something has changed.
A vibration, change in steering, unusual smell, warning light, tyre problem or signs of fatigue may seem minor, particularly when there are still several hours left in the journey. But ignoring those signs can allow a manageable problem to become a more serious one.
For those travelling this long weekend, the safest approach is simple: if something changes, don’t ignore it just because you still have somewhere to be. Find a safe place to stop, assess the situation and seek professional assistance where necessary.
Getting there safely is more important than getting there on schedule.
By Dev Naidoo, Tyre Safety Expert and Fleet Manager at Supa Quick
