road fatalities

(Twitter screenshot)

Read: The UK government advice that make South African roads sound like a nightmare

Bad drivers, dodgy intersections and the unavoidable spectre of crime. The UK Foreign Office has had its damning say on South African roads.

road fatalities

(Twitter screenshot)

Well, it looks like they’ve got our number. The UK Foreign Office (UKFO) have published their advice about driving on South African roads, and well, it’s not pretty.

Their website – which recently upgraded the terror threat in SA due to the Durban bombings – critiques everything from our rogue motorists to our abnormally high levels of vehicle-related crime.

Advice to UK tourists about South African roads

The resource is often used by British-based travel insurance companies to determine whether people can be covered for trips to certain areas. Although nowhere in South Africa is “off-limits” for British tourists, the UKFO have done a great job of making the country sound like a Mad Max movie.

If you’ve ever hit the N2 at 17:00 on a Friday, then their portrayal perhaps doesn’t look that hyper-reactionary. They’ve kakked us out on our love of undertaking, ignorance at roundabouts and chaotic intersections:

“On highways, overtaking can occur in any lane including the hard shoulder. On single-lane roads, the hard shoulder is also sometimes used by trucks and slower vehicles to allow faster vehicles to overtake.”

“At quieter intersections, the first vehicle to arrive sometimes has priority. On roundabouts, you should give way to the right, although this rule is often ignored.”

UK government weigh in on South African vehicle crime

However, what starts out as a nod and a wink to the driving inconveniences we’ve all become accustomed to then takes a more sinister turn. The reality of living in South Africa is hard to escape, and the UKFO weren’t pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes when they said this:

“The standard of driving in South Africa can vary greatly and there are many fatal accidents every year. Road standards are mostly very good, but some roads in remote areas are less well maintained and may have potholes. Drive cautiously, obey speed limits and avoid unfamiliar rural areas at night.”

“Thieves have been known to employ various methods to make a vehicle stop (eg placing large stones in the middle of the road) enabling them to rob the occupants. Park in well-lit areas. Don’t pick up strangers or stop to help apparently distressed motorists, as this is a technique sometimes used by hijackers. It’s better to report any incident to the police.”

Is it OK to drive in South Africa as a tourist?

They’ve addressed the good, the bad and the ugly about our roads: Sadly, the former is overwhelmed by the latter. There are only so many things you can do as a driver to keep yourself safe. Usually, the idiots who get behind the wheel are the ones causing the accidents.

If you are thinking of visiting Mzansi from the UK, we can assure you that South African roads aren’t completely lawless – and at least we all drive on the same side of the road, right? Just keep your wits about you and don’t leave anything to chance: Common sense is a virtue.