Bad and aggressive driving

This is the topic closest to my heart, and the reason Padvark exists. Every day I see drivers who tailgate, push into queues, hoot at people for doing nothing wrong and treat the road as if it belongs to them. Most of them get home safely and never think about it again. The people around them are not always so lucky.

It is worth knowing that this is not just bad manners. The National Road Traffic Act makes reckless or negligent driving (section 63) and inconsiderate driving (section 64) criminal offences. A driver who forces you off the road or drives at you in anger can also face assault charges.

When someone loses their temper on the road, the best thing you can do is not join in. Let them go, avoid eye contact and gestures, and never follow anyone to "sort it out". If you feel threatened, drive to a busy place or a police station and call SAPS on 10111. Once you are safe, note the number plate, the place and the time. You can report it to the RTMC on WhatsApp (083 293 7989) or the National Traffic Call Centre (0861 762 847), and you can post it on Padvark so other road users know who to watch out for. A dashcam makes your report much stronger, but please never pick up a phone or camera while you drive. That makes you part of the problem.

Arrive Alive has written some excellent guides on road rage and bad driving habits. These are the ones I would read first.