How to drive respectfully

This month, we honour the great leader Nelson Mandela who was born on 18 July 1918 and died 5 December 2013. He was one of the most loved and respected people in the world, and in fact even till today he is the most respected international figure in the entire world. We are inspired by his compassion, concern for others, desire for peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Let's all make the effort to adopt his ways, wherever we are, on the road as well as in our lives.

Driver Attitude

In April this year, the Automobile Association conducted a survey that formed part of ongoing research by the AA into driving conditions, driver attitudes, and driver behaviour on South African roads.

According to the survey, with just under 1000 people being polled, nearly 75% of people believe the attitude of motorists towards one another has deteriorated since 2015. The results seem to indicate that most motorists believe the problems on South African roads are someone else’s fault. This attitude implies not enough motorists are taking responsibility for their actions.

The Meaning of Respect

The dictionary definition of the word Respect is: "Due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others." It may be that if we all employed this attitude while driving on the road, the problem of bad behavior and along with it many unnecessary struggles would be solved. Yet it seems easier said than done.

When driving on the roads, we need to understand that the responsibility to drive with the right attitude towards other drivers lies with us as individuals. Evaluate your your behavior towards other road users – is it how you would like to be treated?

For a little help, remind yourself to drive with the right attitude towards other drivers. Start with 3 simple rules:

Allow space between yourself and the car in front
Allow other cars to merge into your lane
Be patient

It’s not easy when everyone else is breaking the rules, but just like Nelson Mandela, it has to start from just one person. That’s you.