Speeding through traffic, skipping red lights, and not following road rules, are just a few bad driving behaviours that can be seen on South African roads. These happen everywhere, from city centres to rural areas, affecting both motorists and pedestrians.
Witnessing driving mistakes has now become a regular part of our daily commutes, with minor to major infringements occurring daily.
If we want safer roads for all, then we need to learn how to avoid making these driving errors. Luckily, we have put together common mistakes drivers make and how you can avoid them with the help of Cartrack’s solutions.
Driving in South Africa can sometimes feel like an Olympic sport or Grand Theft Auto video game experience, with all the unexpected road violations from drivers and pedestrians.
Driving mistakes remain the common thread connecting all crashes. Some of these mistakes are more frequent than others, with varying degrees of consequences for each. Let us have a look at the driving mistakes our fellow drivers make on the roads.
South Africa has a high incidence of drunk driving, especially during weekends and public holidays. We all know somebody who has been pulled over for driving under the influence and have seen many reports of drunk drivers on the road in the news and on social media. In some cases, we have had to spend a night in jail for this offence, due to our own alcohol consumption.
We all know that alcohol consumption impairs judgment and reaction times and sometimes leads to accidents and fatalities. This is mostly because some of us misjudge our tolerance and believe one or two more drinks won’t affect us.
The best thing to do to avoid this mistake is to always have a designated sober driver or to make use of e-hailing services when going out for drinks.
If you have ever found yourself in a big city rush hour, then you have come across someone running a red light or stop sign. From drivers of sports cars to SUVs, you can expect to see a range of people committing this traffic violation. This is such a prevalent issue that you are bound to encounter this in the city, the suburbs, rural areas, at night, midday and at any busy intersection.
Rushing through intersections is a major cause of accidents and pedestrian injury. The best way to deal with this problem is by always approaching intersections with caution, anticipating light changes and staying focused on the road.
Having a car that's capable of reaching 200km/h may be enticing to some drivers, but it is illegal, with the highest legal speed limit being 120km. We all know this, but many still choose to speed.
Speeding leads to accidents and fatalities. This is especially true on highways or in rural areas, where drivers feel there will be no recourse for their actions. Another reason is that the road infrastructure can be unpredictable in some areas, making speeding even more dangerous.
414 drivers were arrested for driving at high speed this past festive season, with 5 going well above 200km/h according to the Department of Transport’s report. The best way to avoid this is by staying aware of speed limits on main roads, residential areas and other roads with specific speed regulations.
Overtaking other cars on the road is a common occurrence; it is one of the few legal things we are allowed to do. The unfortunate part is that, like all good things, we take it too far and ruin it for everyone else.
How many times have we been on the road and seen someone get impatient with the driver ahead of them, overtaking in a huff without regard for other motorists on the road? Misjudging safe overtaking is very risky and can lead to head-on collisions.
To avoid this mistake, you will need to check all your mirrors and blindspots before overtaking, while cognisant of speed limits and other vehicles.
With load-shedding always a possibility and random outages happening across the nation, we have come to expect traffic lights that don’t work. This has made every intersection a de facto four-way stop, where we have to follow a first come, first go honour system.
This system requires drivers to yield and give the right of way to the appropriate car. Sadly, this does not happen often, with some people driving across roads before their turn.
Misjudging right of way at intersections or roundabouts causes confusion and accidents; to avoid this, drivers need to be patient and follow road rules. They will need to be attentive to what is going on around them and when they are next in line.
This is a common mistake, especially for new drivers. Not having the full line of sight in all areas that mirrors provide is very dangerous as it puts the driver at risk of hitting other cars. Another disadvantage of making this mistake is that it puts the driver at risk of hijackings or smash and grabs since they will not be able to see and react in time.
The solution here is practice, practice, practice. That is the best way to get comfortable with using and checking car mirrors and blind spots regularly.
Changing lanes can sometimes be a treacherous experience, having to coordinate the lane change with the best opportunity, coupled with the generosity of the driver in that respective lane. This situation is made more fraught when the vehicle changing lanes does not indicate its intention to do so.
This is a common mistake, and it often leads to confusion on the road and some mild road rage and colourful language use. To avoid making this mistake, drivers need to be analytical of the situation on the road and make lane switches when it is clearest, instead of at the most opportune moment. This will give you time to consider your actions and use the indicator.
Due to the often-heavy traffic and impatience on South African roads, drivers frequently tailgate. This is when a car drives too closely to another without leaving a sufficient following distance. This increases the likelihood of a collision if the car in front were to stop suddenly. We see this often during rush hour, especially in the afternoons when commuters are making their way home.
Some cars have sensors that detect when another vehicle is too close to them. This helps avoid this mistake, but for people whose cars do not have this feature, the only way is to observe the mandated following distance. The best way to know if you are within a safe distance is if you can see the bottom of the tyres of the car ahead of you.
Long-distance travel is common in South Africa, with many people taking cross-country trips for holidays and family visits. With long trips, many drivers often underestimate the dangers of driving while tired, particularly on long highways like the N1 or N3. They become too focused on completing the journey and don't notice how fatigued they're getting.
The best way to avoid this is by taking breaks every 3 hours to recuperate or by exchanging driving duties when on the road with someone else.
There are many reasons to stay vigilant on the roads in South Africa, from wayward pedestrians to unexpected potholes. Some drivers often overreact to these scenarios, making sudden decisions on the road. Sudden steering or overcorrecting affects other drivers on the road who are then forced to make immediate decisions due to the unexpected nature of this driving error.
Let’s be real, potholes are not going anywhere any time soon and we all know that. The best we can do is drive carefully and make sure we are observant of the roads we are on, especially at night. By doing this, we can reduce the number of times that we are forced into sudden situations where we have to make rash decisions.
Driving badly on the roads has many consequences that will affect you, both in the short term and the long run. Some of the mistakes made above may seem minor and inconsequential but there are real-world effects and ramifications, let’s see what some of them are.
All drivers know that violating road rules leads to fines when caught in the act. What some may not know is how high some of these fines can be. Here is a list of some fines for typical traffic violations:
Fines and Penalties
Another way in which driving mistakes can cost you as a driver is financially. Repairs, buying a new vehicle, and increased insurance premiums are unexpected expenses that you will have to deal with.
According to Auto Trader, fixing minor dents in a car starts at R550 and can go well above R4000. This number can be in the tens of thousands should there be significant damage, especially if the vehicle is from a premium brand.
These financial costs are magnified especially when the car has been written off. Some insurance providers will not pay off the full amount without an excess being paid, which can sometimes be very high. In other cases, the amount received does not match the value of the vehicle and is not enough to purchase a new one.
The loss of human life is the one outcome all drivers fear when getting into an accident, whether it be their own life, those they care about or strangers. If convicted, a driver can face up to life in prison for the wrongful death of another motorist or pedestrian. This is compounded by the grief and emotional trauma it will cause to the families of the deceased.
Driving mistakes are a big problem, but fortunately, they can be addressed. Cartrack provides some solutions to the problems that drivers face on the road. These solutions can help drivers make better decisions and have the tools necessary in the case of an accident.
Here are some solutions that can assist drivers:
Cartrack has crash detection technology that comes as a value-added service. With this technology, a car is fitted with sensors that detect impact or collisions. This allows them to send alerts to the control room, which will contact the driver to ascertain the severity of the situation.
Cartrack Protector is a feature that clients can take on, it allows them to receive emergency assistance in the case of an accident or other misfortune on the road. This can range from ambulances, roadside assistance, tyre replacements and towing. Terms and conditions apply.
With the Cartrack mobile app, drivers can see analytics of how well they drive. The app tracks and reports on driving events such as harsh braking, harsh turning, and speeding to name a few. This allows drivers to see where they are making mistakes and understand where they need to improve.
When accidents occur, it can be hard to prove who was in the wrong. Luckily, we have dashcams that you can install as part of your vehicle tracking package. These will record all the journeys you take and provide proof should any roadside altercation occur. This is useful for insurance and legal purposes.
We all make mistakes every once in a while when on the road, it is human nature, after all, but what's important is what we do about it. Putting precautions in place to mitigate these odds is the best way forward, and with Cartrack at your side, this is easier to accomplish.
Get the best in vehicle tracking and stolen vehicle recovery from a provider with a 90% recovery rate, contact us to learn more about how we can make driving safer for you.
Drive safer, avoid fines, and protect your vehicle. Learn about common driving mistakes in South Africa and how Cartrack can help you stay in control.
