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A Guide to Driving in South Africa
By Annetta Holmes

If you are planning a holiday to South Africa and don’t wish to take a guided tour then a self-drive is another option. As with driving in any foreign country forewarned is forearmed. In South Africa you drive on the left hand side of the road and the driver’s side is on the right of the vehicle.

South Africa has a good road infrastructure. However, in recent years, roads that are owned by municipalities have deteriorated. Most national roads that crisscross the country are privately owned by toll companies. Toll fees are high but the roads are kept in excellent condition. These national roads will get you from Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park, Durban and Cape Town.

The usual speed limit on national roads is 120kmh which drops down to 60kmh when one enters towns and villages. It is when one enters a small centre that the roads deteriorate. Pot holes are the worse menace and hitting a deep hole at 60kmh can burst a tyre and damage the rim. Wet weather increases the risk as the depth of the hole is disguised – always approach with caution and rather go around than through.

The quality of the roads vary from province to province. The Eastern Cape followed by KwaZulu Natal has some of the worst roads. The Free State and Gauteng are better.

Hiring a car is a simple procedure and all major airports in SA have at least two hiring companies. These companies can advise you of the best routes to take and what to avoid. Automatic cars are uncommon in SA so if you are used to driving one in your home country and wish to do so here, then forward arrangements with the hiring company are necessary. Also always request a vehicle with air-conditioning as this does not come standard either.

The Automobile Association is also a good source of information and by contacting its offices in Johannesburg before you arrive in the country you can arrange maps and various other interesting driving paraphernalia.

Safety on the Roads
Taxi drivers are the major cause of accidents on SA roads. Their erratic driving behaviour, lack of concern for fellow commuters and total disregard for the rules of the road make them a wild card in busy traffic. Taxis in SA are usually sixteen-seater vehicles that ply the roads competing with fellow salesmen for the same rand. Some of the actions you can expect from a taxi driver are: dropping passengers off at a traffic light which is green for on-coming traffic, stopping at any time under any circumstances to either collect or pick up customers, overtaking over double solid white lines, driving in the service lane. Whenever a taxi is around practice defensive driving and keep your wits about you.

Always keep your windows up – hence the air-conditioning – as SA has a well-organised network of opportunistic thieves. If you stop at a traffic light and your windows are down you have a very good chance of being relieved of anything that is visible – sunglasses, mobile phone, handbag etc. This is more common in the larger centres, but alas is on the increase in quaint little ones too.

Some Terminology
Knowing the local vernacular keeps confusion at bay and helps you smoothly integrate with the new society.

A boot is the trunk. The hooter is the horn. The bonnet is the hood. You drive a car not an automobile and robots are traffic lights. Petrol is gas. (This term causes enormous confusion. Most petrol stations in SA also sell natural gas. Natural gas is known as gas. The foreigner instructing the petrol attendant to ‘fill up with gas’ is met by a blank look.) Locals living in popular tourist centres know American word usage so will be able to help out when you get stuck trying to express yourself. However, if you venture off the beaten track keep your terminology list handy and prepare yourself for lots of hand gestures.

A driving vacation in South Africa can be a very pleasant experience if you are aware of her failings and plan accordingly. Like a few third world countries, South Africa does have sections of first world and most definitely in the tourist areas.

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Written by: Annetta Holmes
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