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Broken down car. Photo by imdavevalk.blogspot.com.

Simon Williamson
November 17th, 2009

The festive season is about to commence and with it an immense amount of road travel, particularly between the interior of the country and the coastline.

This year proves to be even more adventurous as South Africa is currently a giant construction site (in preparation of the Soccer World Cup 2010). Anyone driving anywhere over December and January will be affected, so bear this in mind before you even set off.

I recently drove from Johannesburg to Cape Town and spent an hour going through three sets of roadworks all within about five kilometres of each other just before Colesburg. On a 16-hour, 1400km trip this is infuriating but it would be prudent to just accept the fact that delays are going to happen. Simply factor in extra time for getting to your destination.

Good visibility is always important, so make sure that you can see well in all conditions including fog, darkness and rain. This also means you should avoid driving too close to the car in front of you, no matter how slowly it is going. Be particularly aware when behind a 4x4, a car towing a caravan or some such thing that restricts the road ahead. Should it slam on the brakes you will have no time to react and driving into the back of it could mean injuring yourself or a hefty repair bill.

Keep a safe following distance, always!

Photo (L): wrh.noaa.gov. Photo (C): MichaelTotten.com.
Photo (R): http://images.travelpod.com/users/pykesonthego

When driving between cities, there are rarely streetlights, so the only part of the road you can see is lit by your headlights which, by law, cannot extend more than 45-odd metres from the car. Do you think you can stop within 45m when you are doing 140kph? The AA calls going too fast to be able to stop in a visible portion of the road "over driving your headlights". I call it a potential ongeluk.

If you are tired then stop or change drivers. According to the AA, tired drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers in terms of reaction time and judgement. Falling asleep at the wheel is one of the most hazardous things one can do while cruising along at 120kph. Eating heavy meals during a stop can lower blood-sugar levels and make you tired too. Sleep and driving are mutually exclusive concepts, I am afraid.

If you're swimming upstream and driving from the coast inland towards the Highveld, make sure you take into account the decrease in power which comes with an increase in altitude - especially when overtaking. The AA says there is a 15 -17% reduction in engine performance between the coast and the plateau so overtaking takes longer. Bear in mind that when two cars are heading toward each other, both travelling at 120kph, the gap between them is closing at 66m per second.

After roadworks and tiredness, the biggest danger while driving is wet conditions. Hardly anything turns drivers into complete loons quite like the rain.

If it begins to bucket down, switch on your headlights immediately - other cars will see you more easily, particularly if you are in a dark-coloured car. Avoid abrupt acceleration and double your following distance (the AA recommends a gap of at least 4-8 seconds). Make sure your wiper blades are of good quality - the rain can really mess up visibility through your windscreen, and there should be a minimum of 1mm tread in your tyres.

If there is one thing South Africans are exceptional at it is road rage.

While it may feel like you are de-stressing by swearing and flicking the birdy at other motorists, it could very easily escalate into something quite nasty - as road rage is something we all seem to subscribe to. If someone cuts in front of you, flashes their lights, refuses to move over or does any other inconsiderate thing, I suggest you let it go. The chance of someone causing trouble back is probably quite high and best avoided, particularly as recent reports have mentioned people using guns in "resolving" road rage disputes.

In essence, all drivers need to remain calm and think logically while being aware of the dangers that can creep up unexpectedly. Be safe while you drive and have a great holiday.

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User Comments

Rat Race!

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 10:05.

GET A Sikorski to airlift those unroadworth trucks out the way. THEN fine the owners! BTW when traveling in Gauteng AVOID DIEPSLOOT! That little townshop affects the entire Northbound traffic out of JHB!

Passive Aggression is as bad a Active Aggression

Submitted by Philip on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 08:22.

Road rage is wrong in all forms. I believe that there is a serious misconception that certain actions that impinge on other drivers are "acceptable" whilst others are not. The weaving taxi driver or being cut-off by an impatient driver are examples of active aggression. The point I want to make is those people who disregard the keep left rule and sit in the "fast-lane" believing that this is an "acceptable" action. This is passive aggression whereby one person tries to impose a particular driving pattern on another. The result is the same - more road rage. To those people who feel that they have this right just remember that you are adding to the aggregate road rage levels and thus are just as guilty as other actively aggressive drivers. You are not the police and you have no right to impose your views on others. As we bury another 1300 people for November, remember your part in the death toll. Passive agression is just as bad as active aggression so the next time you see a taxi driver imposing his will through breaking traffic laws to get ahead, remember you are the same. KEEP LEFT and stop your part in the killing.

driving without lights,dusk/dawn

Submitted by kenny e on Sun, 11/29/2009 - 15:00.

lets not forget all our #### who don't turn on there lights at dusk / dawn < did they ever read a learners manual

Right lane...

Submitted by PK on Sun, 11/29/2009 - 13:21.

No 1 has the right 2 stay on the right lane provoquing a traffic or long queu behind him,on the road no 1 is escorting u...if a car behind u ask 2 pass jst let it pass becoz u don't know where he's going and what is his plans...on the roads there are polices in civilians cars,investigators rushing 2 somme crime scenes,doctors on call rushing 2 save life...please let them pass..this thing of trying 2 brake when some1 is asking 2 pass is childish and stupid..he might bump on u from the back and u'll die 4 jst a nonsense reason...Also those verry old people driving slowly,20,60 or 80 on a fast lane.....no,no, i think SA needs a tv show on this matter 2 educate people on how 2 behave on the road

Traffic fines

Submitted by gt24.editor.selene on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 13:15.

Thanks for the comments everybody.

I can't think of anything more wasteful than a traffic fine. It's also best to keep in mind that talking on your cellphone without a hands-free kit will cost you R300.

You know the deal, rather be safe on the roads over the holidays...

Thanks
Selene

And get off the phone!

Submitted by Guy Snelling on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 11:09.

I just narrowly missed an accident on my bike because a woman in a car didn't look when pulling from a stop street. When I accosted her she said that she didn't see me because she was on an important business call. Apparently her call is more important than my life! I'm sure my wife and kids and the thirty people that I employ will disagree.

Please people, it is not only illegal it is very unsafe to use a cell phone when driving. Put it down, and enjoy the drive. Believe it or not, the world CAN do without you for a while.

who's standard?

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 09:34.

Slower traffic should stay left, faster traffic passes on the right, irrelevant of the speed one travels. If there is space on a left lane, use it. Simply see how other countries oblige to this rule!! The problem comes when a slow car in the middle lane is passed on the left and right lane at the same time and then the passed cars have to cross lanes again. This means you have to constantly look around you in order to eliminate a collision. If slower cars remain in the slower lanes and let the faster cars pass on the right, then ones eyes will spend more time on the road ahead instead of having to look right AND left.

@Wanda

Submitted by JDB on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 09:14.

@Wanda, you are spot on. The main problem in this country is that the small-penised men feel extremely inadequate when they have to move out the way of a faster car. They then start claiming that it is their rights to obstruct the flow of traffic for their own perverted reason.

@Alibaba, you are confused. Speeding to take your child to the hospital falls under the “Grounds of Justification”, obviously you may not drive in a reckless or negligent manner.

LEFT LANE - RIGHT LANE

Submitted by BUSTA on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 09:11.

People, the law of the road states: STAY LEFT, PASS RIGHT - they even have signs on the side of the road indicating this. It does not say: IF YOU DRIVE 120km/h IN THE RIGHT LANE THEN YOU ARE ENTITLED TO DRIVE IN THE RIGHT LANE. If you people are so offended when someone drives on your bumper, move over and let them past, then they are gone and out of your life. In terms of the new license demerit system coming in next year, you will lose points on your license for hogging the right hand lane. If I'm not overtaking, I'm driving in the left hand lane. You people who hog the righ hand lane are arrogant and disrespectful! (I cannot stand people who have a sense of entitlement!)

Right lane

Submitted by Wanda on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 09:00.

I think the biggest problem on our roads are intolerance. I was fortunate to be a passenger on the Autobahn in Germany. People there drive speeds of up to 200km/h without making accidents, because, as soon as there is a faster car behind you, you move to a slower lane. And all trucks keep to the slowest lane. You are not the traffic police, move out of the way so that faster cars can pass, and then move into the faster lane if you want to overtake!

Hazzard lights

Submitted by A hazzard on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 06:51.

My pet hate is people who drive with their hazzard lights on in the rain. They think it makes them more visible. However, all it does is blind the person behind. And, of course, if you have your hazzards on, nobody can tell if you are indicating to turn or change lanes.

Left Lane vs Right Lane

Submitted by Alibaba on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 05:57.

I always find this incredible - by law, a person driving 120km/h on SA roads is part of the so-called "fast traffic", therefore he is ENTITLED to drive in the right lane and moving at the MAXIMUM speed allowed by SA law. Left lane and right lane laws normally states you should drive in the left or middle lane UNLESS those lanes are congested, at which time you are ALLOWED to drive in the right lane. In such a case it will normally be advisable to travel at the speed of the normal flow of traffic in that lane but not to exceed the speed limit on the particular piece of the road. Only emergency vehicles (police vehicles, ambulances etc. with their lights on) may exceed the speed limit, not even a civilian taking his sick child to hospital.

Right lane maniacs

Submitted by Stuff speeders on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 00:00.

@Mr right double: I agree fully! And if the idiot is going to keep on flickering his lights at me i'm going to stand on my brakes and test his abs a bit.

@JDB If your car is not fitted with a blue or red light I WILL NOT MOVE OVER if there are slow moving vehicles in the left lane for alll that I know you can be JM who is speeding like a maniac again.

Right lane hogs

Submitted by JDB on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 20:23.

Ladies, it is simple. The law says, keep left, pass right. Go buy a K53 book to double check it.

It is lawful to drive behind someone and to flash lights as a request that you move. Then the law also states that you should move over.

For all you know the guy behind you is rushing his child to the hospital. What happens if that car behind you is an unmarked police car going to stop a robbery?

If you feel that you have been appointed by some higher power to keep the speed down to 120, then you are mistaken.

Grow a brain, you self-righteous retards!

Mr Righ is right on this

Submitted by Mr right double on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 19:03.

Let me echo this point because people dont get it! If I am driving at 120km/h on the right lane, and there are other cars are driving 80km/h on the left lane. in principle that is passing right because the cars on the left are moving slower. I will have to slow down as well to open way for the moron coming at 150km/h behind and flashing lights for me to move. Why should I? Stick to the speed limit! I will move to the left once I have the opportunity to move left - not to slow down, squeeze in-between cars just to open way for the Schumacher behind.

Nothing wrong with my

Submitted by My Right on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 15:56.

Nothing wrong with my thinking though...just for the record. Only when I am tired like today... :-)

As I said its been long day.

Submitted by My Right on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 15:52.

As I said its been long day. I meant left lane and yes I do move over and when I pass I get into the left lane asap. I just cant stand it that when i am in the left lane and someone chases up to me and crawls up my backside cause they cant pass. Not only is it dangerous but illegal too. Not that that statement bears much weight. LOL

mr right???

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 15:24.

yes agreed it's your right, but at least be considerate and move over to the left when a vehicle approaches. no one is asking you to drive any faster than you can think.

Sorry

Submitted by My Right on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 15:21.

I meant if I am in the left lane LOL very long day and week. If I am in the left lane. I meant left mane. Apologies.

It is my right to drive the

Submitted by My Right on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 15:18.

It is my right to drive the legal indicated speed. Yes it is keep left pass right, but these days its 'jaag' left and 'jaag' right aswell. If I am in the right lane on a highway why do people get on my backside when I am driving at 120 km per hour. Be my guest and pass left. Please dont force me to drive faster cause I wont cause I am not late, I planned ahead and NO you dont have more right than me cause you are driving a titanic SUV or something and no I get no satisfaction on breaking the law by driving over the speed limit. Please people. Anyway if you have the money to burn on traffic tickets or the right connections to squash it, I dont. Stop terrorising the people who actually just want to do it right.

Good tips

Submitted by Norman du Plooy on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 13:30.

In a perfect world, people would actually take notice of it, unfortunately most of SA motorist will not. Best is to Pray before you get in your car.

keep left pass right

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 12:22.

just a reminder: all vehicles need to keep left and pass right lane for overtaking, not for cruising.
Most drivers feel that they have a right to be driving in the fast lane no matter what their speed. the right lane is for overtaking. those that encounter drivers not willing to use their rearview mirrors to see what is happening in the back should rather stick to the left lane it is faster flowing.

Blinding lights

Submitted by Mahmood on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 11:29.

Other major causes of RR are incorrectly focussed headlights, HID lamps, use of fog lights in clear conditions and, of course, the inability of cops to prosecute infringements of the NRTA (National Road Traffic Act). What are they waiting for? BACKUP!?