From road rage to the best driver
Good incentives coupled with smart technology can change people’s lives. George Honiball knows this from first-hand experience. With a little help, George improved his driving behaviour and his life. Today, he’s a better driver and his road rage has vanished.
Fatigued and frustrated by driving 80km to work and back on Johannesburg’s notorious highways, George Honiball, found that he could no longer control his temper. “I was becoming increasingly aggressive,” the father of two says, “and I started experiencing increasingly severe road rage.”
George’s bad temper on the road not only affected his driving behaviour, but also became problematic for his passengers. “My wife complained about how fast I was taking corners,” he says. But he ignored this feedback by telling her, “I use this route every day and I know how to drive.”
His wife of 16 years became more and more scared to drive with him as his aggression and short temper spiralled out of control. Because of his comfort with excessive speeds and his aggressive driving style, George crashed two cars in a year. “I wrote off a car in 2012 and again in 2013. The first was not my fault, but I could’ve been more alert to avoid the situation,” he explains. “The second accident was entirely my fault. I was tired and driving on an unfamiliar road late at night.”
Taking back control
Realising that he couldn’t carry on driving this way and could endanger his and other people’s lives, George decided to take back control on the road. This meant making long-overdue changes to his driving behaviour.
In December 2013, George joined Discovery Insure. He started engaging with its rewards programme, Vitalitydrive, straight away to improve his driving. Vitalitydrive uses telematics (a technology that tracks how well you drive) and incentives to encourage clients to improve their driving.
The positive changes to his driving behaviour astonished him, his family, friends, and colleagues.
“After joining Discovery Insure, I loaded the Insure app and it helped me change my driving style. I did not realise that the speed limit reduced on the corners I was taking on the highway. I also learnt how sharply I had been braking,” he says. And of course, like many other drivers, he routinely used his smartphone while on the road. “Immediately I stopped fiddling with my phone while driving and discovered that it is not such a big deal if people have to leave a message for me,” he adds.
Now that his driving behaviour has improved as a result of engaging with technology-driven Vitalitydrive, he carefully obeys speed limits. Today, George is baffled at how other people drive. “Now I notice that other people are aggressive and sit on my tail on the corners that I used to whizz through.”
“My road rage has disappeared overnight. I don’t see other aggressive drivers as competition and no longer get angry when people overtake me or push in front of me,” he says. “Since I am driving slower and adhering to speed limits it does not bother me anymore.”
“I enjoy the Discovery Insure app and the way it challenges me to drive more responsibly,” he says, “I now try to anticipate when cars will brake suddenly in front of me to avoid penalties. It has really become a life tool for me.”
George has made further important changes to his routine to help him avoid road rage. “I listen to audio books and schedule meetings from 9:00, and no longer for 8:00, in case traffic delays me.”
George’s family and friends have noticed his safer driving habits and his positive engagement with Vitalitydrive. “My best friend commented on how much safer I drive. If I brake suddenly when he is in the car with me, he immediately asks if it will trigger on my app,” he says. His wife is also far more comfortable with how he drives now.
When a Discovery Insure representative was asked about George’s driving style, he said, “His driving is very safe and his scores are excellent in car control (acceleration, braking, and cornering) as well as low levels of speeding. His average star rating is 4.7 (out of a possible 5), which is far better than the average and places him in the top 10% of the population for safe driving.”
The content for the above featured story was supplied by Discovery Insure. To get car insurance that calls emergency services when you can’t, click here.
Top tips to combat road rage
Don’t drive drowsy
Make sure you get enough rest, especially during the week or when you’re more likely to be faced with traffic jams and delays. Driving when you’re tired increases your chances of getting agitated and angry on the road.
Plan ahead
Leave for your destination well ahead of time to avoid delays. Make sure you know exactly which route you’ll be taking to get to your destination to avoid the added frustration of getting lost and running late.
Be nice to your car
Revving your car and driving it hard when you’re frustrated on the road not only takes its toll on the condition of your car but it burns fuel and your money too! Be kind to your car.
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