A statistic like that makes the crime feel sudden and unavoidable. But hijackings rarely happen at random. They happen where routine takes over – at the gate, outside the mall, or on the way home. And that means one of the most powerful ways to reduce risk is really rather simple: break the pattern.
Hijackings often look as if they’re random, sudden and unavoidable. They’re not. They’re a result of patterned driving behaviour that hijackers look out for and leverage off: routine routes, repeated habits, and moments where we’re less mindful.
To hijackers, we’re datasets of predictable driving and that's what makes us easy prey. Think about it: most of us go through most of our day on autopilot, riding along well-worn paths to and from work, the shops, or a night out. If we move through our days in much the same way, our behaviour becomes easier to read, and easier to exploit.
It’s not about blaming our behaviour. It’s about being more aware. And awareness is one of the most powerful pattern breakers available to drivers.
“It’s not about blaming our behaviour. It’s about being more aware”
Hijackers don’t need advanced tech or inside intel. What they look for is consistency.
And crime data confirms this – most hijackings happen:
These are places and times where drivers feel most relaxed because they’re most familiar. The place that feels safest – our own driveway – is often where we’re most at risk. We slow down, stop and wait for the gates to open, which creates a predictable pause, and hijackings usually happen in those small pauses built into our daily driving.
On top of this, our reliance on surveillance security – boom gates, estate security, mall guards, CCTV and neighbourhood patrols – also leads to a false sense of safety. Our brains relax because we believe someone else has our back.
This false sense of safety and familiarity work against us. Familiarity lowers defences, routine blunts awareness, and fatigue reduces our reaction time.
To someone watching, these patterns stand out clearly:
So what can we do about it? It’s not like we can restructure our lives and do things differently every day. But we can be a little more adaptive.
On the way home from work? Delay your departure some days or leave early on others. Heading to the mall? Try mornings over afternoons and mix it up. Almost at your gate? Drive around the block a couple of times and check what’s around you when you do.
The goal isn’t to drive in a state of hypervigilance and fear. It’s to stay flexible. Vary routes, times, stops and habits enough to stay unreadable. That’s how pattern breaking works.
“Hijackers don’t need advanced tech or inside intel. What they look for is consistency.”
Most hijackings don’t involve elaborate schemes and ruses. In fact, many rely on set methods, and a savvy driver can use that against the hijackers if they know what to look out for.
Here are some of their most overused MOs, so predictable we can see them coming. So, let’s look at why they’re so effective, and what you can do about them.
This happens when a driver slows down to enter or leave their property, a moment when movement is limited and attention is elsewhere.
Why it works
Home feels safe and that sense of safety drops vigilance at exactly the wrong moment.
What breaks the pattern
Pause before turning in. Scan mirrors and surroundings. If something feels off, don’t commit to the turn. False safety zones only work when we rush into them.
This happens when a driver exits a shopping centre and is temporarily trapped between two security booms.
Why it works
Controlled environments feel secure. Boom gates, guards and cameras create a false sense of safety. The brain relaxes because ‘security has got it sorted’.
What breaks the pattern
Leave space between you and the car ahead so you have room to manoeuvre. Keep doors locked and windows up. Be aware of anyone approaching on foot while you wait. If something feels wrong before the first boom closes, don’t move forward. Rather reposition and create distance instead.
This looks like a typical breakdown, with a stopped vehicle, hazard lights on, and someone asking for assistance.
Why it works
Most of us are good humans who want to lend a hand when someone needs help. But in this case social conditioning cancels out caution.
What breaks the pattern
Help doesn’t need proximity. Keep your distance, stay in your car, and contact roadside assistance or emergency services instead.
This typically takes the form of a light tap from behind designed to make a driver stop and leave their vehicle to look at the damage.
Why it works
Sudden shock and confusion cloud clear thinking. Drivers instantly focus on possible damage rather than on personal safety.
What breaks the pattern
If the area feels unsafe, don’t get out. Drive to a well-lit, populated location or police station before stopping.
A car follows your car at a distance, matching your speed and turns, waiting for a moment when you slow down or stop.
Why it works
It’s the kind of driving behaviour that often goes unnoticed because it feels so subtle and non-threatening.
What breaks the pattern
Trust pattern awareness. If something feels repetitive or wrong, change direction, slow down, or move toward a safer area.
None of these methods really rely on surprise alone. They rely on habit. So be on the lookout and break the pattern.
In the moment of a hijacking attempt, the priority is not your car. It’s the person inside it. Cars can be replaced – that’s what insurance is there for – but lives cannot. So always take the line of least resistance rather than putting lives at risk.
Too often, we tend to think courage is what’s called for and resistance is the right approach, but we’d be way wrong. In high-risk situations, compliance is the better path and doesn’t make you any less of a hero. In fact, staying calm, getting out their way and letting them leave with your car is the bravest approach.
Understanding this in advance removes doubt and indecision in the drama of the moment, and that mental clarity can make a massive difference. Because the goal in that moment is survival. Everything else can be handled later. And here’s how that happens.
"In high-risk situations, compliance is the better path and doesn’t make you any less of a hero.”
Once a hijacking has happened, there is a handover moment, from human to system. This is a good thing, because after a trauma, shock tends to send our bodies into shutdown, and that’s why systems matter more than ever at that time.
While we’re dealing with the after effects of the situation, we’re not in a great state – our memory, decision-making abilities and emotional state are all compromised. That’s why what happens next needs to be structured, supported and fast. So, let the system take over:
At this stage, speed and clarity matter, not decision-making under distress. But recovery of your car is not the only thing you should be thinking of – psychological recovery is just as important.
Hijacking is a traumatic experience, and its effects don’t end when your car is gone. Make sure you get trauma counselling and emotional support so you can reclaim your confidence, and a sense of safety and control.
Another way to regain some sense of reassurance is to make sure you have cover that is wide and works quickly, and support teams that are on your side. So, relook your insurance policy, reconnect with your neighbourhood watch, and remember to be alert whenever you’re out on the road.
“Speed and clarity matter, not decision-making under distress.”
Hijacking is a harsh reality of South African driving, but it’s also something that can be planned for smartly. From theft and hijack cover to guided claims support, rapid response and recovery services, Miway is ready to step in when systems need to take over, with:
Because when predictability is the real risk, being prepared becomes the smartest pattern breaker of all.
