Don't become a statistic

Driving While Distracted (DWD) makes drivers eight times more likely to be involved in a road accident, and teenagers are 400% more likely to cause a DWD crash. A study that covered 6 million miles (almost 10 million kilometres) of driving showed that texting while driving is by far the riskiest cellphone activity in a vehicle, increasing the risk of causing a crash or near-crash event by 23.2 times. The American National Safety Council says, "Drivers using cellphones are four times more likely to crash, and hands-free phone use offers no safety benefit". April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and highlights that being distracted while at the wheel can have fatal consequences.

Noteworthy news in numbers

3 965: total number of vehicles lost in the sinking of the Felicity Ace cargo ship last month, including Porsches, Bentleys and 15 rare Lamborghinis.

728: number of road rage incidents involving a gun during 2021 in America, the highest ever, with someone injured or killed every 17 hours.

5 million: number of volunteers who have signed up to assist blind and low-vision users of the free Be My Eyes app, since it launched in 2015.

AI-powered cyberattacks

New technologies such as 'artificial intelligence' or AI make it easier for cybercriminals to scale up their attacks. AI-powered malware can use machine learning to hunt for cracks in systems without making its presence known, mimicking network traffic so as not to raise any red flags. Numerous instances of AI-backed cyberattacks have already taken place, requiring businesses to deploy their own AI-powered defence mechanisms.

When may telemarketers call?

South Africa ranks fifth in the world as far as spam calls are concerned, with the average South African receiving around fifteen unsolicited calls a month. Legislation such as the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) set boundaries that telemarketers are supposed to observe, and the CPA is strict about when consumers may be contacted for direct marketing purposes...

The power of gratitude

Gratitude is being aware of and thankful for the good things in your life, not necessarily material possessions but perhaps relationships, situations, or anything positive. Gratitude is a feeling that might come to you spontaneously, but it's also a daily practice that you can cultivate, and can have far-reaching effects.

Experience this year's Safire Berg 100

We are delighted that the Safire Berg 100 event was able to take place, after two years when this much-loved MTB race could not be held. Have a look...

The Insurer newsletter and the content of any article published herein, should not be construed as forming part of any insurance contract or policy nor as constituting any form of advice. It is aimed at providing an informal and informative read to the readers thereof. Whilst every effort is taken to attempt to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information contained herein, Safire Insurance Company Limited does not give any assurance regarding such accuracy or correctness and accordingly does not accept any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising from any reliance placed in the information contained herein.