The National Traffic Call Centre at the RTMC often receives complaints and reports from motorists who believe they have been inconvenienced on the road. Voluntary Traffic Observers prefer to report the more serious offences such as slipping traffic lights as well as aggressive driving and obscene gestures from road users.
One of the benefits of the National Traffic Call Centre is that road users gain an awareness that their driving behavior is monitored, not merely by the metro police of traffic officials, but also by their fellow road users!
One of these alleged offenders provided interesting insight into the levels of frustrations experienced on the roads. His response was as follows:
“I am pleased to see the efforts being taken to bring such matters to bear. I recall the event very clearly (as I was very distressed by the incident – both my behaviour and that of the other driver) and am embarrassed to admit that, to a greater or lesser extent, the case brought against me was true, if not somewhat embellished. What is sad, however, is that the case only represents one side of the story.
I admit to flashing my lights at a dark coloured VW Golf (I believe that it was of the Golf 5 series) BECAUSE he (the driver was a male) had sped past me in the left lane (I was travelling in the middle lane) and squeezed into a gap that was not adequate – yes I was keeping a reasonable following distance, but the nature of the incident was such that the driver of the Golf was carrying so much speed that he himself had to brake hard in front of me. I flashed my lights at him with the completely benign intention of alerting him to his dangerous action. His response to me was to show a rude gesture (often known as ‘the bird’ or ‘the finger’). Sadly such behaviour gets my blood boiling, however, in this incident I remember remaining particularly calm. I recall that I flashed my lights at him again repeatedly and he continued to display rude gestures.
The second point refers to me overtaking him and braking hard. Contrary to this description I had actually through the course of normal driving ended up ahead of him again (it’s worth mentioning that as I passed him he again ‘showed me the finger’). When I was in front of him, he started flashing his lights at me and crept up very close to my bumper. I initially slowed down, lightly touching the brakes in the hope that the other driver would get the message to keep a reasonable following distance. He continued to ‘tailgate’ me and flash his lights. I braked shortly and sharply at which point he backed off then came to overtake me – again showing rude gestures and visibly swearing at me. He mock swerved at me after which I reacted and swerved at him – I believe that I was ‘far more committed’ in my gesture, hence the note by voluntary public traffic observer that I attempted to push him off the road. He then proceeded to enter information into a device presumably a cell phone and presumably my information.
I am neither proud of what I have done, nor do I condone it. There are extenuating circumstances for my ‘over the top’ behaviour which are not the concern of any one else, but I will point out that I did go to counciling for this specific event – details of the councillor can be given if required. However, it is very obvious that only one party here is being punished for an incident that clearly involved unsuitable behaviour from both parties. I am not aware what the definition of a “Voluntary Public Traffic Observer” is, or who this particular one was, though I would have little doubt it was the driver of the Golf himself, in this case.
I have already mentioned how impressed I am that I received this as it shows that attention is being given to these things. I support your endeavour and as I said am embarrassed to have been the culprit – or at least one of them – here. Perhaps the RTMC, in its recommendations for greater traffic safety, should also look more closely at the root cause of incidents such as these. I consider myself to obey the traffic law to the letter. I am courteous, I always indicate, keep my distance, use my lights appropriately, park safely, travel only in legal carriageways, try to be patient even in frustrating circumstances and so forth – though I concede my one traffic vice to be occasionally exceeding the speed limit. However, when I do all this and an inconsiderate and obstinate driver cannot accept that they are in error and affront me with vile and rude gestures, I simply cannot control myself…
If you have the details of the other driver, I would appreciate you bringing this to his attention. I hold no grudge, but would like to say to the many, many men and women out there that do show rude signs: please don’t, or be prepared for the consequences… That to me is like a racial affront to a coloured man, a bigoted comment to a Jew or a cultural slur to a less fortunate person.
I shan’t be making any affidavit to this, unless it comes to it becoming a registered offence. By the way, I would like to also become a voluntary public traffic observer. How do I do this?
Thanks you for reading this.”
It is important that road users are aware of other road users around them. You don’t know the emotional and psychological condition of another road user – Be courteous, expect that others might make mistakes, and give them the benefit of the doubt! The road is not a place to express your anger and to stand up for your rights…rather be the considerate and inconvenienced one – the one that Arrives Alive!
Visit the Arrive Alive Road Safety website for information on Road Rage and how to avoid it!
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