5 types of drivers to avoid in traffic
With the recent bus strikes which thankfully came to an end this week, those of us who use our cars to commute have become all too familiar with various driving behaviours in traffic.
I for one have learnt that there are certain drivers that are best to avoid on the road, to prevent myself from being involved in any mishaps.
Bad driving behaviour not only affects the driver, but those of us around them, and in many cases can lead to accidents and fatalities. So for our own safety, it is best to steer clear of these five types of drivers…
The rule breakers
It’s amazing to see the amount of drivers who seem to have a sense of entitlement that allows them to drive in the emergency lane, or in the oncoming lane, to skip the queue. Yes, we all immediately think of taxi drivers, but it seems that regular drivers have been getting up to the same tricks during desperate times. Road rules are there for a reason, most of all is to keep you and other road users safe on the roads.
Also read: Motorists need to stop driving in the emergency lane!
Apprehensive or nervous drivers
These are the drivers who seem to have no idea where they’re going or which route they plan on taking. In traffic, their indecisiveness before changing lanes at the very last minute, really just causes havoc to those around them and adds to the congestion.
Nervous and inexperienced drivers are just as troublesome, stalling on congested hills, missing their turn at stop streets, they can’t quite get the hang of anticipating their next move in time.
Also read: 5 top tips to help your pass your driving test
Aggressive road ragers
We all know how frustrating sitting in stand-still traffic can be, but some drivers automatically assume that their commute is far more important than others, and that everyone else on the road is of complete insignificance. Unnecessary hooting, shouting and tailgating is distracting to other drivers and makes the commute far more unpleasant than it already is.
Also read: Don’t give in to road rage during this school term
Distracted drivers
Some drivers keep themselves busy in traffic by phoning a loved one to catch up the latest family gossip, or they turn their music volume up to maximum levels to drown out the mundane experience of sitting in traffic. While it’s all very well to make the most of the situation, sometimes these drivers lose focus completely. They’re unaware of the ambulance trying to pass through to an emergency, or they don’t use their hands-free kit during phone calls and drive with one hand. Distracted driving is a real problem on SA’s roads and a major cause of road accidents and fatalities.
Also read: Distracted driving still a massive problem in SA
Unroadworthy drivers and vehicles
An unroadworthy vehicle can pose a huge threat to others on the road. Driving on worn or damaged tyres is extremely dangerous and it’s best not to be behind a car with a tyre that could burst. Unroadworthy cars have a high chance of breaking down and when this happens in traffic, the going gets tougher on everyone else.
Also read: Removing unroadworthy vehicles will make SA roads safer
What types of drivers do you try and avoid in traffic? Send us your comments to [email protected]