Facing Traffic

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semisane1987

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One of those threads other people may feel I'm wasting their time. My driving license is a year old I live in a small town Rustenburg, I have been driving for couple of months. So far I wouldn't say my driving is perfect but I'm handling Rustenburg traffic quite well, I just need to focus more on changing lanes I still struggle there a bit. So far I have driven to Zeerust and Mahikeng but currently I have that feeling to take on big traffic like going to Joburg or Pretoria. But I don't know if I'm ready I just want to fine out from others how was it first time driving around Joburg or Pretoria.
 
Ramodiana said:
One of those threads other people may feel I'm wasting their time. My driving license is a year old I live in a small town Rustenburg, I have been driving for couple of months. So far I wouldn't say my driving is perfect but I'm handling Rustenburg traffic quite well, I just need to focus more on changing lanes I still struggle there a bit. So far I have driven to Zeerust and Mahikeng but currently I have that feeling to take on big traffic like going to Joburg or Pretoria. But I don't know if I'm ready I just want to fine out from others how was it first time driving around Joburg or Pretoria.
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Scary. But we all manage it, so you will be fine. Just remember, check your blind spots. Watch out for bikers lane-splitting. Be alert and aware of what's going on around you.
 
Also, keep your doors locked and windows closed.
 
And if you miss an offramp or something, continue on to the next one and use that to turn around. Don't stop and reverse.

The number of Limpopo drivers I see doing that, and the crap it causes...
 
Messugga said:
And if you miss an offramp or something, continue on to the next one and use that to turn around. Don't stop and reverse.

The number of Limpopo drivers I see doing that, and the crap it causes...
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Lol that is what I'm scared of missing an off ramp but I think I should go with someone first time and I should go there middle of the month when it's less busy.
 
Ramodiana said:
Lol that is what I'm scared of missing an off ramp but I think I should go with someone first time and I should go there middle of the month when it's less busy.
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It's always busy, there is no middle of the month slump in traffic.
 
Put your destination into Waze and follow that. Other than that, keep your eyes open.
 
plan your trips - if you know which exit to take it makes it easier, but you also need to gauge the distances between offramps.
for eg: you don't want to be in the fast lane at woodmead to take the offramp at Malboro - it's the little things that make it easier.
my daughter has been commuting for just over a year in peak traffic between centurion and midrand and the main thing, beside all the safety crap, is to stay in the middle lane, that way:
1. you don't have the added hassles of people like me in the 'biker lane'
2. it makes it easier when you decide to offeramp as you generally end up moving just one or two lanes
3. if there is an obstruction, you have the opportunity to go left or right
 
Be prepared to be horribly lost. I think the suggestion of GPS is a good one - helps a lot if you are being told where to turn rather than trying to read road signs while worrying about everything else.

Also we're an impatient bunch so you might get people on your tailpipe getting frustrated with you. Now I'm not saying drive slowly or anything like that, but don't let someone else pressure you into doing something stupid.
 
And please - if you find yourself on a busy highway and you are incredibly nervous please stick to the leftmost lane - people sitting in the middle of a moving highway trundling and <80km/h are just as dangerous as those speeding.
 
Nemus said:
Put your destination into Waze and follow that. Other than that, keep your eyes open.
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There are people who don't know how to use map navigation. More so when they drive in dense areas like pta and jhb. That makes them even more dangerous than when they don't have maps.
 
Nemus said:
Put your destination into Waze and follow that. Other than that, keep your eyes open.
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Thank you for that information GPS and staying in the middle lane it makes it easy to turn. If I see someone is in a hurry I always move on the slow lane, that is how I got to Zeerust first time.
 
Ramodiana said:
Thank you for that information GPS and staying in the middle lane it makes it easy to turn. If I see someone is in a hurry I always move on the slow lane, that is how I got to Zeerust first time.
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Don't stay in the middle lane on the freeway though, you generally don't need to turn right.
Only exception would be where the freeway divides, eg at the Buccleuch interchange.
 
Living in JHB for 10 years now, I still sometimes get caught off guard when travelling in an area I don't know, some of the road markings are poor, lanes just disappear or merge with each other, not to mention being in the wrong lane when wanting to turn, and then no-one letting you in to merge..

Practice makes perfect.
 
My first time on the JHB highway was a day after getting my license, and I had a tyre blowout on me. Didn't want to alarm my mom so I told her it was just busy that day on the highway. This was a Saturday morning and it was still busy, the first time having cars fly down at you at 120km/h was scary especially since I was in a 14 year old Ford Meteor.
 
Dude / Dudette. I live in Rustenburg and have been driving since I suppose you were a twinkle in someone's eye. :D
(Ok, i'm not that old). I'll help you if necessary.
 
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