Don’t look and drive

Driving on the Gauteng freeways, when it feels as if the world is going crazy, is sometimes one of my biggest challenges in life.

Commuting to work on the N12 each day made me understand that each stretch of highway has its own character.

There are three lanes and surprisingly it is the middle lane that is always the slowest.

Sometimes slower traffic takes up the second lane, “competing” for the spot of the slowest of the day.

This causes everyone and anyone to want to be in the fast lane.

The N12 stretch between Boksburg and the Springs off-ramp is also far quieter than some of the other highways I sometimes frequent – the R21 in both directions and the N1 around Rivionia Road.

The bliss of quietness occasionally stops when an accident occurs and this always makes me think and guess what happened.

I think speeding is the big culprit, simply because we don’t easily drive bumper-to-bumper between the Edenvale off-ramp and the Springs off-ramp on the N12.

Speeding is a huge challenge for anyone of us and I sometimes have to concentrate to slow down, even after seeing the regular speed camera at the Atlas Road off-ramp. I recognise these speedsters each day on my way to work.

They will, most of the time, be in the fast lane and everyone slower than them has to duck into another lane to avoid a tragedy.

At times these fast and furious drivers will weave and bob in and out of lanes.

These drivers scare me because you never know what to do when they approach you.

I often giggle at the Ekurhuleni Metro Police’s (EMPD) press releases on what it calls “speedsters” (a terrible word in my dictionary).

In these releases the EMPD sometimes gives the reasons the speedsters gave them for going too fast on the road.

Being late for work, especially early in the morning, is one of the many reasons for speeding.

Another man was “flying low” to a prayer meeting early one Sunday morning.

It makes me wonder, is speeding really necessary?

This comes to mind each time when I see the car wrecks and ambulances next to the packed road.

Like I said, it is so easy to go fast when the road is open, but I think all of us must restrain our heavy feet.

Speaking of the EMPD, Last week another officer died when he was hit by a car.

This one was killed close to the Kraft Road off-ramp and another officer was killed earlier this year on the Paul Kruger Highway.

I don’t know whose fault these deceased officers’ deaths really were.

Many people say the officers jump into the road, in the way of the traffic, but the officers have to do something about speeding offenders.

I think it is not necessary that law enforcers have to die while combating the crime they aim to eradicate.

Another reasoning is that our cars may be too fast.

But, whose foot is on that pedal?

On its website www.arivealive.co.za Arrive Alive says another cause of road crashes is people peeking at or talking on cell phones and other electronic devices while they are driving their vehicles.

The website says drivers not only talk on their cell phones, but also perform a wide range of activities such as texting, social networking and browsing on the internet while behind their vehicle’s wheel.

This is most probably driven by the drivers’ desire to be online and connected at all times.

I agree with Arrive Alive’s idea of ditching the phone, tablet or computer while driving because it causes distraction to the driver, even if the driver looks at the device for only a few seconds.

And the consequences of distraction may be detrimental – to the driver, his passengers and the other road users.

The website says the effects of talking on a phone while driving, in some cases may be equal to or worse than drunk driving. because the drivers using phones have slower reaction times and have difficulty controlling speed and lane positions.

Also interesting is that talking on a hands-free kit is as distracting to drivers as holding the cell phone in your hand.

The website also says even reaching for a hand-held phone or portable device, as well as dialling and texting increases the risk of a crash by three times.

I think, in the light of all these frightening facts, put your phone off or ignore it when it rings because it is important for any driver to stay alert at all times and to be cautious when behind the steering wheel of any vehicle.

And yes, we don’t even talk about drunk driving.

As with speeding, this is a criminal offence and I feel it is not worth the risk.