I have always complained about the standard of drivers on the South African roads and each day there are new challenges avoiding accidents. The biggest issue is those driving and who have somehow got licenses do not know the rules of the road. A recent report suggested that as high as 50% of those on the road have purchased their licenses from corrupt traffic officials at the testing centers. I would suggest this figure could be way higher just from what I have experienced on the SA roads.
The cape driving testing stations have introduced a computerized controlled learners test getting rid of the old system. The old system basically had never changed for years and was multiple choice rotating between two identical tests so everyone knew the questions before they sat the test. these were given to the candidates via the driving schools so as long as you memorized the test you did not need to know the rules of the road.
The new computerised test randomly selects questions from the entire learners book and only 17% passed the new learners test in the last 12 months. This kind of tells you all you need to know on the standard of drivers driving on SA roads. I am sure the computerised testing version will most likely be stopped or shelved because the system does not allow for corruption as the test results are instant once the test is finished. There is no selling learners licenses and the masses now have to study the book which is challenging knowing the standard of education.
Another trick is to select the Code 10 license as this does not require you to do a 3 point turn or parallel park. The scary part is the code 10 is for a small bus or van below 16 tons and this is an option for those seeking a code 8 or motor car license. Unsurprisingly many cannot park and I always chuckle watching the locals park using their new Chinese cars with cameras. They are learning new tricks that they could not perform before which is rather scary.
In South Africa most of the traffic lights are out of order so they are basically a 4 way stop now. We all know the process as everyone takes their turn in an orderly fashion except if you do not know the rules of the road it becomes a guessing game. Their is no orderly fashion with cars jumping their turn and those who know the rules of the road are now left guessing.
Things are so bad I have experienced on multiple occasions cars going around a round about the wrong way. Cars on the outside lane of a round about looking to take the 3rd exit is also very common and you have to expect the unexpected. Overtaking on the freeway using the slow lane so there is no pass on the right and every lane becomes a passing lane.
When you combine all these deficiencies on road knowledge and add that most of the cars have no insurance every trip has many hazards. I am an experienced driver with an advanced drivers license and find every trip challenging due to the standards of driving by the majority on the roads. The problem is you have to think for them knowing what they are going to do next and nothing is obvious.
