Driving on our South African roads can be a frightening experience especially when you see how other drivers constantly put not only their own lives in danger but also those of their passengers and fellow road users. Most of us have forgotten the driving lessons we received when we first got our drivers license while others have the attitude of ‘the rules don’t apply to me’.
But what if we are made aware of the mistakes that we make on the roads on a daily basis? What if we start to teach our children what the different road signs mean and the basic rules of the road? We will create a new generation of better drivers.
Here are the top 6 most common driving mistakes made in South Africa:
Keep left, pass right
It’s such a simple rule yet there are so many that don’t obey to it. The basis is you (the driver) have to stayas far left as you can, to only move onto the right hand side when overtaking another and then returning to the left. If a faster car does happen to come up behind you then the best is to let the faster car through by moving to the left, but only if it’s safe to do so. Don’t drive on the middle line either,aim to rather drive in the middle of the lane which you are in by keeping between the two lines.
Only pass when it’s safe to do so. Trying to pass a slower vehicle or truck on a blind rise, blind corner or double solid line can be dangerous. Most of our national roads and highways are built with passing lanes which can create a safe pass way option for all. Don’t take a chance, rather play it safe.
The use of a traffic circle
How many times have you come to a traffic circle and only to find that at least 2 drivers don’t know how to use it? The traffic circle is not rocket science and it’s truly easy to use and follow. Plan ahead when you arrive at a traffic circle, use the correct lane and indicate your direction.
If you want to drive around the traffic circle in order to go to another street always follow the inside lane. If you want to go straight ahead at the traffic circle then go on the outside lane. The idea of a traffic circle is you shouldn’t come to a complete stop once you are in it. Indicate your directions at all times to let other drivers know where you are going.
The solid line
Many drivers have been using the solid line as a mere decoration on the road. It’s there for reason – your safety on the road. The mistake most of us are guilty of is entering the freeway / highway / roadway by crossing the solid line before it ends, just to jump the queue. All that you are doing is holding up the traffic that has already been waiting patiently while you are backing up the line. Be considerate and be courteous.
The same goes for driving on the highway, do not take over on a solid line. As it’s mentioned above, it’s there for a reason – your safety.
Flashing red light – load shedding
At some point we are all affected by load shedding, even at the busy intersections of our towns and cities. When you see the traffic light is out of order or is flashing red, treat the intersection as a 4 way stop. How it works, just to refresh the memory, is the first vehicle to arrive at the 4-way stop has right of way, don’t cross the intersection following the car in front of you, it’s an offense. If you arrive at the same time as someone else you can either take the initiative and go first or let the other driver go through safely.
If you want to turn at an intersection use your indicators to show the other drivers where you are heading so that you can make a safe pass through the intersection. If a points man (or woman) or traffic official is directing road users at the intersection, always obey their instructions.
Don’t be a tailgater
Arrive Alive states that the reaction time in humans to recognize a potential hazard is 0.75 seconds. It takes another 0.75 seconds to react to that hazard and to brake, the vehicle takes 0.05 seconds to come to a stop. When you are not leaving enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you, you have less time to react quickly and prevent a car accident.
Be patient no matter where you are driving, always apply the two-to-three second rule by watching what the driver ahead of you is doing. If you want to work it out, select a road sign when they pass it and count off 3 seconds.
Cellphone use is a no-no
We have all heard it at least a hundred times over and we will continue to hear it a lot more. Our addiction to be in constant contact with the world has caused us to text and make calls while we are driving. It takes the average person 20 – 30 seconds to send a text message (SMS, Whatsapp, Facebook etc.) while just one second can cost you your life and the lives of those around you.
Some believe that when you are at traffic light you can quickly send a text because you are standing still, however your attention is still diverted from the road and you might put not only your life but that of others in danger by sending the text. You might be texting on your phone and in the mean while the red light turned green, the drivers behind you honk and you suddenly put down the phone and accelerate only to find a pedestrian has stepped off the curve thinking you are giving way to them. The result is a split second devastating chain reaction.
There are wonderful hands free kits available on the market these days that can be easily installed into your vehicle. If you are a person who makes a lot of phone calls it is best to invest in a hands free kit however you still shouldn’t speak too long on the phone. Your concentration is still not 100% on the road. Rather wait for your next rest stop or wait until you reach your destination to reply to all your messages and missed calls.
We are not prefect but if we all concentrate, be patient, be considerate and stick to rules we can all become better drivers.
Common driving mistakes made by South Africans
