Bad Driving thread

I went out earlier to go and do a live production.
On my way to the venue, I saw how three occupants next to me, and then cut in front of me on Sandown Road, Sunningdale (presumably employees) of AVID SECURITY in Sandown, Cape Town, really drive like arseholes, speeding and clearly either drunk or high. Company vehicle driven badly. Couldn't take a video or photos as I was driving but yes, today I've seen my share of arseholery and more.
 
Watch: Disaster narrowly averted as jackknifed truck veers into oncoming lane on Van Reenen’s Pass

South Africa’s roads have seen some tragic accidents over the festive season, but thankfully disaster was averted in the incident recorded in this video, posted on YouTube by SA Trucker.

A passenger of a truck was recording a video of the driver going up Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal on December 19, when another truck travelling in the opposite direction lost control and jackknifed.

The truck then veered into the oncoming lane, but thankfully the driver being recorded in the video was not travelling too fast and was alert enough to bring his truck to a stop, averting disaster by mere metres.

It is also incredibly lucky that no other motorists were caught in the crossfire of this truck driver veering head-on into the oncoming lane.

But it also serves as a valuable reminder that accidents like this can happen in a split second, and sticking to the speed limit and paying attention can either help you avert disaster or reduce the severity of a collision, even if you are the “innocent victim” of another out-of-control vehicle.

Incidentally, Van Reenen’s Pass saw another multi-vehicle pile-up on Thursday, close to the scene of the jackknifed truck. Traffic was backed up heavily in both directions on the day.


I am certain I can see standing water there, the speed limit for trucks in "normal" conditions is very low there, I assume they didn't reduce their speed for wet conditions?
 
We all know this, which is why this thread exists, but the driving in this place truly is astoundingly bad, and plain careless. Taxis aside, every time I go down to the shops near my house, a ~1km drive, I almost have at least 2-4 accidents due to idiots changing lanes without looking or indicating, or Uber drivers doing u-turns from the left side of the road without looking or indicating. 🤬

I'm gonna buy a tank soon and just plough straight into all these selfish f**kwits who think they're the only people on the road. Yes, I'm talking to all of you, you know who you are.

That's all.
 
Did a 2500km road trip recently (WC & EC).

What I experienced mostly:

Impatient drivers i.e. wanting to overtake anyone driving 120km/h
Dangerous / reckless drivers e.g. overtaking on a solid white line with a blind rise

And the winners were.

VW Amarok drivers
Toyota Land Cruiser drivers

:unsure:
 
Did a 2500km road trip recently (WC & EC).

What I experienced mostly:

Impatient drivers i.e. wanting to overtake anyone driving 120km/h
Dangerous / reckless drivers e.g. overtaking on a solid white line with a blind rise

And the winners were.

VW Amarok drivers
Toyota Land Cruiser drivers

:unsure:
Saw 4 cars in a row the other day do this...on a hill, on a road with trucks..about 1km from where the road widens into a double lane and you can overtake safely..I think people just want to die here.
 
Saw 4 cars in a row the other day do this...on a hill, on a road with trucks..about 1km from where the road widens into a double lane and you can overtake safely..I think people just want to die here.
Saw the same thing :X3:

Also just clearing oncoming traffic while overtaking. They might have a death wish, but there are other users on the road to think about.
 

BMW driver apparently upset with me

The truck ahead was indicating to move into the next lane, so I gave some time to indicate to move into my next lane, considering that there was still another lane for the bmw to overtake me. That BMW was at least two soccer fields behind when I moved over but suddenly accelerated right behind me flashing his lights, then overtook me, then braked in front of me. When I eventually went past him he had his arm out his window trying to show me something. Not sure what.
 
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Impatient bakkie driver

The car in front following rule of road by yielding to the traffic on the right, the bakkie behind decides to undertake on the left, then cross a solid white line forcing me, while I am indicating to go left, to brake hard.
 
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BMW driver apparently upset with me

The truck ahead was indicating to move into the next lane, so I gave some time to indicate to move into my next lane, considering that there was still another lane for the bmw to overtake me. That BMW was at least two soccer fields behind when I moved over but suddenly accelerated right behind me flashing his lights, then overtook me, then braked in front of me. When I eventually went past him he had his arm out his window trying to show me something. Not sure what.
I know that R24 ORTIA / N12 split very well , and also that long steep hill just after the Meadowdale off ramp - I lived in that area from 2011 to 2019, and now use the that part of the R24 / N12 from Eastgate to go to either Meadowdale (shopping at Checkers Hyper or Makro) or up to the turnoff to Rondebult Road in Boksburg (to do shopping at East Rand Mall).

Ascending that hill in a 1.4 litre NA car with only 63kW / 120Nm (minus 17% power loss due to the altitude) is quite a challenge - even in 4th gear, if I start at the bottom at around 125 km/h, by the time I get to the top I am usually down to around 90 km/h or thereabouts... ;)

BTW - I also have a Garmin dashcam (the DC-45) and I have also enabled the GPS co-ordinates & speed display on my unit - you should do that as well - it makes it easier to see just how slow some numbnuts are travelling in a 120 km/h zone (in either the 2ns to right or the extreme right lanes) when you overtake them... ;)

Here's an example of a totally oblivious & slow middle-lane hogger doing 90-95 km/h and having cars pass it on BOTH sides, when I was coming back from Midrand to Eastgate on 23 July 2024... ;)

 
Mine doesn't show speed, but was was doing the legal speed limit, according to the speedometer, so probably about 110km'h real speed. Considering the rain and all. But regardless, there were 3 cars on the road, the truck, me, and the BMW that was way back.
 
I know that R24 ORTIA / N12 split very well , and also that long steep hill just after the Meadowdale off ramp - I lived in that area from 2011 to 2019, and now use the that part of the R24 / N12 from Eastgate to go to either Meadowdale (shopping at Checkers Hyper or Makro) or up to the turnoff to Rondebult Road in Boksburg (to do shopping at East Rand Mall).

Ascending that hill in a 1.4 litre NA car with only 63kW / 120Nm (minus 17% power loss due to the altitude) is quite a challenge - even in 4th gear, if I start at the bottom at around 125 km/h, by the time I get to the top I am usually down to around 90 km/h or thereabouts... ;)

BTW - I also have a Garmin dashcam (the DC-45) and I have also enabled the GPS co-ordinates & speed display on my unit - you should do that as well - it makes it easier to see just how slow some numbnuts are travelling in a 120 km/h zone (in either the 2ns to right or the extreme right lanes) when you overtake them... ;)

Here's an example of a totally oblivious & slow middle-lane hogger doing 90-95 km/h and having cars pass it on BOTH sides, when I was coming back from Midrand to Eastgate on 23 July 2024... ;)

only real issue I have experienced with people refusing to move over for being slow, is going past Winnie Mandela Drive, Rvionia, then Marlborough, heading east, for some reason there will always be someone there in the right lane going 90 ignoring everyone behind them. I don't understand it.
 
only real issue I have experienced with people refusing to move over for being slow, is going past Winnie Mandela Drive, Rvionia, then Marlborough, heading east, for some reason there will always be someone there in the right lane going 90 ignoring everyone behind them. I don't understand it.
Yup - I also travel that route now & then from Marlboro going east as well & through Gillooly's (my weekday nightmare at peak hour) through to the R24 & on to Eastgate, and have noticed the large amount of tortoises in the 2 right hand lanes going 20-40 km/h SLOWER than the traffic in the lanes to the left of them... What's up with that? are they inconsiderate & selfish drivers - or just totally oblivious to what's going on around them?
 
People don't know how to drive well, and make their problem everyone else's.

People who cannot grasp the concept of staying in the left lane unless actively passing is something that pisses me off to no end.

It demonstrates their lack of comprehension for the rules of the road, their lack of consideration for other drivers (because nine times out of ten these ****wits are creating congestion and preventing others from passing or moving back and out of the way of others), and their own lack of confidence in being able to safely perform basic driving manoeuvres (read: changing lanes).

Angry, aggressive, and reckless drivers are rubbish drivers who project their own incompetence and failings onto others.

You see it almost every bleeding day on the roads. People who are licensed and on the roads who should be using public transport because they don't have any business being behind a steering wheel.

Driving is a wonderfully ordered system. When everyone drives well it functions beautifully and elegantly.

When idiots think it's a free-for-all and that they're the number one ****wit in their own glorious narrative, it goes to pot.

You're on a public road, not the track. And even the track has rules.

These people need to lose their licences. The bar to entry needs to be substantially higher.

Driving is a privilege; not a right.

/rant
 
People don't know how to drive well, and make their problem everyone else's.

People who cannot grasp the concept of staying in the left lane unless actively passing is something that pisses me off to no end.

It demonstrates their lack of comprehension for the rules of the road, their lack of consideration for other drivers (because nine times out of ten these ****wits are creating congestion and preventing others from passing or moving back and out of the way of others), and their own lack of confidence in being able to safely perform basic driving manoeuvres (read: changing lanes).

Angry, aggressive, and reckless drivers are rubbish drivers who project their own incompetence and failings onto others.

You see it almost every bleeding day on the roads. People who are licensed and on the roads who should be using public transport because they don't have any business being behind a steering wheel.

Driving is a wonderfully ordered system. When everyone drives well it functions beautifully and elegantly.

When idiots think it's a free-for-all and that they're the number one ****wit in their own glorious narrative, it goes to pot.

You're on a public road, not the track. And even the track has rules.

These people need to lose their licences. The bar to entry needs to be substantially higher.

Driving is a privilege; not a right.

/rant
Some of the things I have noticed that have disappeared on our roads in the last 30 years...

Keep Left, Pass Right -

I find that it is often MUCH faster to stay in the extreme left lane when travelling on a multi-lane highway - it is virtually empty as all the other lanes to the right are either taken up by three HGV's (or Hyundai H-100 or Kia K-2500 bakkies) doing 80.25, 80.50 & 80.75 km/h, all trying to overtake each other on an uphill, or the lanes to the right are filled by hordes of SUV's, bakkies and German luxury saloons / hatchbacks all doing the NASCAR Indianapolis 500 multi-lane slalom, hopping constantly from lane to lane at 140 km/h (or more), only to arrive ONE car ahead of you by the traffic lights at the end of the off-ramp...

Using your indicators to signal your INTENTION to change lanes when it is clear to do so -

NOT putting them on for three flashes (or NOT at all) AS they veer across, 1 m in front of your bonnet, to suddenly change lanes...

Sun Down, Lights On -

I was taught to turn on my dipped beam headlights (NOT just park lights - they're for PARKING & NOT driving) half an hour BEFORE sunset, and to also keep them on for half an hour AFTER sunrise - as that is when the sun's rays are at their most oblique & the dazzle / glare from the sun reduces your ability to see other vehicles around you, especially if you have a dirty windscreen...

Using your cell-phone when driving -

I keep my phone in my pocket & ignore any calls or notifications when driving - my focus is entirely on what's happening through the BIG screen in front of me - unlike MANY motorists who are MORE focused on the LITTLE screen in their hand - or even worse, in their lap - and only look up every 5 to 10 seconds to see what's happening through their BIG screen - you can travel QUITE far in 5-10 seconds when doing 120km/h & the excrement unexpectedly hits the propeller directly in front of you...

Also, for those who JUST have to use their phone when driving (because they're VERY important & entitled) - DO NOT HOLD IT IN FRONT YOUR FACE ON SPEAKER when having a conversation - and veer between the white lines of your lane - or cross over them into another lane, when most modern cars - even a Renault Kwid or Hyundai i10 / Kia Picanto have Bluetooth (and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay) with hands-free connectivity - pair your device with the infotainment system and utilise that capability - FFS!

Following Distance - the 2-Second Rule -

This is meant to provide you with sufficient space in front of you to take avoiding action & brake if the traffic in front of you suddenly slows down - or stops completely... it is NOT there (take note all of the minibus drivers, as well as the drivers of the afore-mentioned SUV's, bakkies and German luxury saloons / hatchbacks) for them to veer across in front of your bonnet & squeeze into your lane - forcing you to slow down to reinstate that 2-second gap, only for the process to be repeated ad infintum by the a$$h0le drivers during your journey to your destination...

There are many other infringements I could mention - but it's already past my 22h00 weekday curfew at Shady Pines - & matron is about to do the rounds and give us our bed time Milo (or Horlicks) & medication (half a Viagra tablet - it has a dual purpose - it stops you rolling over & falling out of bed if you are restless & 'toss & turn' (pun intended) - and it also prevents you from peeing on your slippers when you wake up at 03h00 to go & take a leak... ;)

Drive Safe & Stay Alert on the Roads - your life DOES depend on it... ;)
 
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Did a 2500km road trip recently (WC & EC).

What I experienced mostly:

Impatient drivers i.e. wanting to overtake anyone driving 120km/h
Dangerous / reckless drivers e.g. overtaking on a solid white line with a blind rise

And the winners were.

VW Amarok drivers
Toyota Land Cruiser drivers

:unsure:
The new thing (perhaps not that new but I've significantly reduced road travel) is oncoming imbeciles going for the pass regardless of your position and expecting you to dive into the hard shoulder. It really isn't surprising that there were 200 fatalities in six days.

Polite queuing is no longer a thing either.
 
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