The Typical African Driver… Expect no Courtesy

Many of you have heard of the tales told about Africa; the rugged terrain where man is animals prey and animal, man’s prey. Well, while most of these could be untrue, there are loads of other realities about Africa that you certainly have not experienced. The most “thrilling” is the African driving experience. Meet the typical African driver, one who knows no courtesy, and treasures madness on the road.

Give way?

There are those times when you need right of way, well, depending on some circumstances. For instance, this may be the case if that is the best way to clear some traffic building behind you. Under such circumstances, you may need to request the driver in front of you to clear some little space for this purpose. You will have a rude shock in Africa if you encountered the typical African driver. Despite acknowledging your noble course to see traffic cleared, there just is not enough time to dedicate to the welfare of “others”. It is much better to concentrate on what benefits you on the road. Simply, “I need that little space more” why should I relinquish it? There is surely no reason. Is there? “It does not matter that you are desperately trying to avoid a head-on collision. I still need my space!”

Wait, was that a road sign?

Every time there were to be rally competitions, plans were made in advance to ensure that the roads to be used for this purpose were reserved for that specific occasion for that day. Apparently, most African drivers could not approve of that. To the typical African driver, rally competition should be conducted on roads with flowing traffic! Clearing traffic just eliminates the thrill that comes with competition. For this reason, the typical African driver will, almost always, seek to demonstrate this feeling on the road. Never mind the danger he puts himself/ herself and fellow road users in! As a consequence, African roads are a hell of impunity. Complete disregard of traffic signs and rules. The only rules that apply are the ones that an individual driver opts to abide by and the ones that he/ she has created in the head.

Before long, mistakes happen and the results…Catastrophic!

In this kind of hell, mistakes are surely bound to happen. And when they do, the consequences are really dire. Selfishness and desire to prove prowess in rallying on the roads leads to a couple of mistakes that may not be pushed. However, miscalculations and ground standing lead to fatal accidents, several of which are serial.

So, have you wondered why Africa reports such serious road accidents? Wanted to know why the death toll on African roads is so high? It is the attitude of the typical African driver.