How, with a probe? no thanks. It was a joke but if I had a drink or two which seldom happens, I try not drive or speed! Normally that would be at a braai at home!
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: What is the ultimate French toast topping?
Autobahn speed limit decision
- Thread starter NoADSLyet
- Start date
How, with a probe? no thanks. It was a joke but if I had a drink or two which seldom happens, I try not drive or speed! Normally that would be at a braai at home!
*ignore list updated*
Back on topic: there is a simple, clear indicator that Germany clearly has a better road and traffic system compared to SA: road fatalities. http://www.arrivealive.co.za/pages.asp?mc=info&nc=AccidentCrashStats
Back on topic: there is a simple, clear indicator that Germany clearly has a better road and traffic system compared to SA: road fatalities. http://www.arrivealive.co.za/pages.asp?mc=info&nc=AccidentCrashStats
When i lived in germany their traffic regulation seemed to be top class. Necessary if you take into account their country is 1/3rd the size of SA, with twice as many people ... and 50 million cars on the road (back in '01 anyway)
You need to also look at the history, alot of rural drivers in SA didnt grow up with cars. They didnt learn the value of it...or the depth/speed stoppage perception that goes along with driving. Which is why you'll always find one turning infront of you while you're doing 120... because to them you were still far away.
anyway, the guys i used to lurk with were all at the stage of getting their drivers licenses, which is a big thing. back then it cost the equivalent of R15k and they had to do about 21 lessons, including highway driving, night driving, first aid, etc. So we can say what we want, but those average folk are more jacked than we are. (even though all of us consider ourselves above average drivers)
As for the roads here, ours might not be in good condition, but its waaay wider than in europe, generally speaking... so we should have it much easier. but we dont. In the defense of the Eastern cape, i must admit their roads are not as bad as one would imagine or expect from the poorest most backwater province. Yes, we do have many potholes here.. but its an ongoing process.
anyway, that was my 2c worth
You need to also look at the history, alot of rural drivers in SA didnt grow up with cars. They didnt learn the value of it...or the depth/speed stoppage perception that goes along with driving. Which is why you'll always find one turning infront of you while you're doing 120... because to them you were still far away.
anyway, the guys i used to lurk with were all at the stage of getting their drivers licenses, which is a big thing. back then it cost the equivalent of R15k and they had to do about 21 lessons, including highway driving, night driving, first aid, etc. So we can say what we want, but those average folk are more jacked than we are. (even though all of us consider ourselves above average drivers)
As for the roads here, ours might not be in good condition, but its waaay wider than in europe, generally speaking... so we should have it much easier. but we dont. In the defense of the Eastern cape, i must admit their roads are not as bad as one would imagine or expect from the poorest most backwater province. Yes, we do have many potholes here.. but its an ongoing process.
anyway, that was my 2c worth
feo
Honorary Master
Yeah, also their public transport system is superior to ours i.e. no minibus taxis to cause drama all over the place.
Yeah, thats the point with our lower limits we still have major problems! thus its the people or drivers not the roads! Therefore My point I agree and Like Morkel and her views. Locally they will disagree!
Anyway about your ignoring ???? How bl@@dy petty. One of these days you have a forum for yourself! You can then listen to your own views!
AND the comments were still all on topic!
Thanks for confirming my point re roads width.
I agree with the experience as I still shiver remembering driving down the narrow roads (No shoulder) traveling at a safe speed and then these locals come flying past at high speed. I am sure thats why they are such good rally drivers!
That explains it all.
Another thing we forget, in germany with all the people there... they strongly rely on the existance of their social structure. hence everyone wants to make it work and thus they all obey and enforce the rules. Over here, everyone tries to take shortcuts. Dont be mad at the taxis...everyone here breaks the speed limit every day, overtake on double barriers, fail to come to a complete stop (or slow down at all) at four way stops... and we love skipping the robot just as its turned red for us. Most of us will bribe a cop rather than pay the R900 speeding fine.. because its the easy route. There's no social responsibility left.
We dont believe in a social system, and we dont believe in the power of one, therefore we wont ever achieve anything like that.
when i lived over there, on a few occasions i tried to walk across the road, while the pedestrian light was red. I was shouted at by other pedestrians for doing so...even though there wasnt a car in sight, because apparently i was setting a bad example for kids. If we had that kind of devotion to our social structure, we would be able to achieve miracles. But ofcourse, its easier just to run across the road, let alone go to a ped. crossing. After all, if nobody else does it, why should i ? This attitude will certify our social downfall...
I live in Germany, and you are spot on correct with the above.
Over here, THINGS WORK. Period. Unlike SA...
Unfortunately that's the sad reality of it. And say what you wan't ... but poverty should not be the excuse for not following the social system. Besides, even the rich folk in their bmws and mercs take short cuts as much as the next oke (if not more).
I actually prefer taxis on the open road to those cars, because the luxury travel MUCH faster and at least with a taxi you expect the unexpected. you don't always regard a person in a R400 000 car as a safety threat.... until he comes screaming towards you on your side of the double barrier over a blind rise in the transkei.
Mainly lack of maintenance and poor initial design of freighter routes being overcrowded by heavy trucks. The current .gov has done alot for this economy, regardless of what anyone says, but one crucial factor they didn't take into account through all this growth is that maintenance becomes part and parcel of any project.
There always use to be permanent maintenance camps along the national roads.. today there are just quick fix pothole fillers that do not eliminate the problems. Once a hole forms and water gets under the road it needs to be fully rehabilitated, not just patched. The hole is filled, but the base weakens ... and before you know it you have this long trench of tar that has sunk down along the road ... and those are even more lethal.
There always use to be permanent maintenance camps along the national roads.. today there are just quick fix pothole fillers that do not eliminate the problems. Once a hole forms and water gets under the road it needs to be fully rehabilitated, not just patched. The hole is filled, but the base weakens ... and before you know it you have this long trench of tar that has sunk down along the road ... and those are even more lethal.
Those became notorius, not for maintainance as there was none donefor many years, but for spreading HIV!
But thats the previous governments fault right? They taught they only had to cater for so many people.
So now the newbies find themselves adding lanes and so fort...
Do you think we need new roads?
Ye potholes are bad but thats just the affiliate companies that stuff up knowing that they gonna be called as soon as the holes open again... thats a admin problem and should be fixed.
After 13 years? Tsh! What a joker. So the fact that many of the old roads are still operating and even the new roads (the few added) today is not maintained. That is still PW's fault, I have news for You he's dead and buried but Mbeki is alive, but I am sure PW will still be able to do a better job, from the other side, as Mbeki may as well be dead and buried too, that is how much he contributes to this country!
feo
Honorary Master
Yeah. Blame the previous guys. It's easy.
Converting the emergency lane to a temporary lane is not adding new lanes.
Hell yes!
NO. Potholes are caused by inferior road production, massive increase in heavy freighting (thanks mostly due to the degrading Train freight services), and an overall lack of maintenance. There is a pothole near the only entrance to the estate where I stay that's been growing for the last 6 months. Countless phone calls by myself and many residents have resulted in zero action. Sounds like a council problem to me. When it rains we consider adding Koi.
Last edited:
Post of the month
Yes yes in a perfect world.... Lets hope it sorts itself out. I know a guy who does the wooden barriers at least every 6 months he changes it, so I ask why dont you move in a way that the trucks dont take it out when they turning, he says but then he wouldnt get paid R50k to replace it!
What to do...
It is technically adding a lane... i like that they trying new things ramp meters etc... Maybe after all efforts Gautrains etc maybe if the needs there then build bigger and better roads.
Do you think the increase of SUVs causes degenerating roads? Possibly...
Ye I saw that hole, did you put that orange cone and fill the hole with grass?
That is something with which I disagree. You should be able to cross whenever and wherever you like and should be trained/practiced in doing so. Of course people need to be taught to apply common sense - there are roads where it is not feasible to get across without the assistance of a light.
Last edited: