Why do people drive like this in South Africa ?

Question

Yesterday as I was driving between Lichtenburg and Mafikeng I got stuck behind drivers doing only 60 or 70 km/h on the freeway ! Numerous drivers took unnecasary chances overtaking the slow driver on a road famous for their daily head on collisions. I found this to be a daily problem . What are they thinking ?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question.  The phenomenon is not just restricted to South Africa.  Speeding kills all over the world and It is the leading cause of traffic-related death.  

All over the world people drive without permits too, and often the legal consequences for speeding (reckless endangerment) and driving under the influence is, well, inconsequential.  

It seems to be a mentality for some people.....they just can't seem to stand another driver to be ahead of them.  

If you get the answer to this question, and better yet the solution, please share it with the rest of the world!

Answer 2

Heavy beats me too, but that is not the worst, a couple of weeks ago I drove through the Transkei (notorious for no fences, potholes and pigs running over the road). I was doing 120 km on the dot because I was scared of the even more notorious speed cops there, but cars were flying past me at breakneck speeds, easily doing 160 - 180 km ph! Oh and because of the potholes they drive right on the white line in the middle of the road. Or pehaps they do not want you to pass them? I passed at least 4 cars that had to stop with flat tyres. I think the one car drove right off the road, because all I passed was a massive dust cloud.........(I did not stop to check for obvious reasons).

Answer 3

Under the criminal ANC government, a general culture of crime, violence and of disregarding basic levels of decency have been instilled as the norm in South Africans, South Africa has become a sick society where the law is irrelevant and the well being of others is unimportant, you will have to get used to this kind of behaviour.

Answer 4

This is crazy! Bull XI, you are full of Bull****.....! You seem to be a very bitter and twisted individual. I see you lots on the forum - doesn't matter what it's about - from Marie biscuits to holiday advice - you  start the same old whinging about rape and pillage under the new government. Come on! Try to be positive. I live in SA, and I know we have some problems, but it is paradise compared to the UK and other cold damp spots of misery in Europe (and the States). I know, I have lived overseas for a number of years on work assignments......and boy, am I glad to be back! It's people like you that make me ashamed to be a white person.....

Answer 5

This is hilarious! Blaming the ANC for speeding drivers!

As if the driving in other countries on this planet was always a 100% correct. People kill each other by reckless driving all over the world, Bull, not just in South Africa.

Answer 6

Do you think that they were thinking at all, at the most:

Me first !!

Answer 7

It's just culture, have to live with it

Answer 8

they don't think of cause

Answer 9

As Bull said, criminality is instilled in every sphere of life in SA now as the norm nowadays by the criminal ANC, so it's no surprise.

Answer 10

Its not a case of blaming the ANC - unfortunately, in the African culture it is far more common to think that you have the right to drive without a license.  Drinking and driving has been cited as a major problem, and I have found that people seem to think that maintenance is not a necessity.

Answer 11

Slow drivers? They shouldn't drive.

I hate it when you're going the same way as they are and they're just taking their damned sweet time.

Answer 12

They were all trying to get home before they had an accident or got highjacked.

Answer 13

It is so unnecessary, and then people wonder why there is so many accidents on our roads