From this week thousands of South Africans will be travelling across the national roads to visit relatives and friends in many parts of the country.

Sadly, it is also a season of accidents as many families will be on the road. Nobody wants to think about the likelihood of not reaching their destination, but travellers need to consider its possibility.

Some holidaymakers will either be travelling by taxis or buses, criss-crossing the country not knowing there is an insurance they can buy to cover themselves should they have motor vehicle accidents.

Yes, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is there to compensate accident victims in the event they are injured on the road, but it may take years before they are compensated, said Johan van Greuning, the head of Standard Insurance Limited at Standard Bank.

He said before getting into that taxi or bus you should check whether you are adequately insured against any mishaps that may occur on the road.

"Even if you believe you are sufficiently insured, you should check exactly what you are covered for before going on holiday," van Greuning said.

For those using taxis he advises them to check whether the taxi they travel in belongs to an accredited taxi association and the driver has the required public driving permit. Van Greuning said they should also check whether the taxi driver carries public liability insurance for passengers who may be injured during a journey. If a taxi is not registered and its driver is not correctly licensed, this could affect the passenger's ability to claim from the operators, he said.

Many people who travel by taxi cannot even afford medical aid, and if injured they would only rely on public hospitals for treatment.

"They could also wait for many months or even years before having a RAF claim is processed, he said.

Those who hire buses should carefully check their credentials.

Van Greuning said the bus service should issue a contract that clearly spells out what their responsibilities are and what safeguards they have in place for passengers.

If they do not have passenger insurance, the consumers should ask if they have contacts with insurance companies that can issue coverage on a once-off basis.

Van Greuning advises consumers to contact these companies, get their rates and add insurance costs on to the overall ticket price.

Though it may take extra money, it can save you and your family considerable financial and emotional hardship in the event that you have to claim," said Greuning.

Christelle Fourie-Colman, the chief executive of MAU Insurance Acceptances said consumers must also check whether their short-term insurance policy covers their possessions whether they are at their own holiday home, renting a hotel room or letting out their own residential property.

She said when renting a home for the holidays from another homeowner, find out who will be held liable in the event of a break-in or robbery happening at the premises during the tenants' stay. Fourie-Colman advised consumers to also check with their insurance provider whether they are fully covered in the event of belongings being stolen or damaged while occupying a residence that is not listed as their permanent residence.

"If your policy states that you should lock your doors and gates, ensure you do so to avoid repudiation of a claim if the requirements are not adhered to," said Fourie-Colman.