A video has been received from several road users about an incident which occurred on the 18th of Junie 2017, 50km before Laingsburg in the direction towards Cape Town at 14h45.
[For the purposes of this discussion we will not include reference to the dangers of driving when distracted and the risks of using a cellular phone while driving].Much of the dismay from the public has correctly been at the overtaking truck driver who has certainly created a dangerous hazard for oncoming vehicles.
It is however also very important to note that the truck driver to the left should focus on defensive driving as well! There are NO winners in road crashes. By merely slowing down a bit the overtaking truck would be able to get into a position of safety much faster thereby reducing the magnitude of the risk!
We find too often that road users want to “make a point” to the other road users instead of focusing on the most important issue – that of Immediate safety!
[Additional information has since been received. It is alleged that the owner called his driver and the driver reportedly said that the truck on the left accelerated and the SugarField truck is governed at 90km/h]Even though we cannot condone unsafe overtaking, we should emphasize the need for kind and defensive driving – accept that others might err in the distance they need to overtake – and make the necessary [ even though inconvenient] adjustment to your own driving to ensure safety!
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Road Safety is a Team Activity…. Drive Defensively…. Be Prepared to Slow Down if another is Creating a Threat to Safety! @Wheels24 pic.twitter.com/PAxDmKxcCX
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 19, 2017
Also view:
Safe Overtaking and Road Safety
