Road rage: A potential killer on our roads
Road rage is another potential killer on our roads. A few weeks back, I stopped at a STOP sign in Lobatse; although I noticed another vehicle approaching from the right, I believed that it was safe to turn left onto the A1 road since I was in a 60 kph zone and so the approaching vehicle would be moving slowly. But as I was accelerating, this same vehicle overtook me and the driver hooted angrily at me, and yet he was travelling at 80 kph or more. His uncalled for anger could have caused an accident further down the road. If you find yourself getting angry with other motorists, stop on the side of the road and take time to cool down and relax before continuing with your journey. Remember that if someone is getting in your way, it’s likely that they are not doing it on purpose. And also recognise that getting upset about someone else’s driving serves on useful purpose; you cannot control how other people drive!
At holiday times, the Ministry of Transport often urges motorists to drive with utmost care on the roads. But usually there are rarely any words of advice for livestock owners. And yet they are also road users since their animals often graze along our roads. And on cold nights, they may seek welcome warmth sleeping on the tarred road surface. Although such animals may appear innocent, they can cause nasty accidents and loss of life. And even if roads are fenced, unscrupulous livestock farmers may leave gates wide open, or even deliberately cut holes in the fence, to allow their animals to feast on the more nutritious grasses along the road.
I once worked in Bobonong and had a friend there who hailed from Eswatini. One day, as he was driving to Gaborone, at one point he saw that the road ahead was clear and so he decided to overtake a slow- moving vehicle. However, he hit a cow that suddenly decided to rush across the road in front of him. He died on the spot.
A recent issue of The Voice newspaper carried an interview with a 40- year old man who was involved in a terrible road accident when he smashed into a donkey on the road in the middle of the night. Although he escaped with his life, he is now wheelchair bound and is paralysed from the chest down. Before the accident, he had been a teacher and a very successful boxing coach but the accident now marked the end of his career in the classroom. After a long spell in rehab he then relocated to Canada with his wife and has now learnt how to paint with a brush in his mouth! I wonder how the owner of the donkey would now feel if he knew he had caused such misfortune?
Livestock owners whose animals cause death or injury on our roads should be severely punished. To simply fine a farmer a few thousand pula is not enough. Such a fine may not hit his pocket hard since just one of his beasts may be worth more and he may own several hundred of them! So, for this reason fines should be increased. Also, names of livestock owners responsible for road accidents could be published in the Daily News or in the private press. But prevention is better than cure – livestock should not be allowed on the roads in the first place. Some years back we used to see Livestock Patrol bakkies plying our main roads on the lookout for stray animals and open gates. But these days we no longer see them – why? Perhaps motorists should avoid driving at night on the open road unless it is absolutely necessary. Livestock may not sleep at the same time as humans; whilst we are crashed out, they may still be moving around in search of a late supper!
Maybe one- day livestock owners could be strongly urged to keep their animals away from roads failing which serious action will be taken against them. Members of the Botswana Defence Force [ BDF] could then be instructed to patrol some of our roads in search of livestock. If found, some could be shot and the beasts given to local destitutes. A few ‘ sacrificial lambs’ may be necessary to solve the problem once and for all. And it would give our boys in army fatigues some much needed shooting practice!
But motorists can also play their part in reducing accidents that involve livestock. When you see animals on the road, slow down and pass them at walking pace. Do not sound your hooter, rev your engine or flash your headlights since this may cause them to panic. If you do, then the animals may bolt in all directions. Finally, bear in mind that if an animal crosses the road in front of you, others are likely to follow! Some vehicles on our roads are clearly overloaded. Vehicles that are stacked high with goods have a high centre of gravity and so may become unstable at high speeds and can easily topple over spilling their goods all over the road in front of approaching traffic. Such vehicles should always be stopped at roadblocks and drivers instructed to lighten their loads. Straps used to secure goods should also be checked for safety; on cargo aircraft, checks are always made to ensure that the cargo is well secured to avoid movement during the flight. Since most such vehicles originate in South Africa, then perhaps they could first be inspected more at border crossings.
Care should be taken when a motorist wishes to transport long items, such as planks of wood and pipes. They should always ensure that such items do not extend too far beyond the back of the vehicle. If they do, then they might fall off the vehicle onto the road. Although drivers may place red Coke tins at the end of such items, proper red accident triangles may be much more visible, especially at night.
Tired drivers can also cause accidents. During a long trip, drivers should stop regularly, say, every 200 kilometres, not just to fill their fuel tanks, but also to rest a while. Therefore, a motorist travelling from Francistown to Gaborone could stop over in Mahalapye to freshen up before continuing on his way. Tired drivers are less attentive on the road and take longer to respond to changing circumstances and road conditions as they drive.
Most road accidents are caused by human error or recklessness on the part of motorists. However, a few may also be caused by mechanical failure. To prevent this, motorists should have their vehicles regularly serviced at a well- known reputable garage. This should be done every 10 000 kilometres, or after six months, whichever comes earliest. Skipping a service may be a false economy! Recently, I took my truck for servicing at a Lobatse garage at the recommended time. And it was a wise decision. Before carrying out any work on the vehicle, they first inspected it and found out that one front tie end rod was worn out and needed to be replaced with immediate effect. Asked what would happen if this was not done, the garage owner did not mince his words – the wheel would simply come off while driving and would likely cause much damage to the vehicle, or worse, an accident for which I would be totally responsible. So, a few hundred pula was a small price to pay – a stitch in time saves nine! The lesson is clear – drivers should not be too stingy when it comes to looking after their vehicles!
Heavy trucks are also a real hazard on our roads, especially in towns where there may already be traffic congestion. In Lobatse, heavy trucks are diverted around the town so as to avoid the town centre where the narrow roads were built during the colonial era when there were far fewer vehicles on the roads. And in Gaborone, large trucks can use the Western By Pass if they have no business in town. However, things are somewhat different in our second city, Francistown. Here Maunor Kasane- bound trucks are diverted through a low income residential area before they join the A3 road opposite the Tati Town police station. But the road here is narrow and houses are closely spaced and lie close to the road. And since most people here do not own cars, they may, instead, walk along the road to wherever they are going. So, an accident involving pedestrians here is clearly on the cards – the road was built for small cars, not 18- wheelers! For some years now, we have heard of plans to construct a new road from Tonota to Mathangwane, some 30 kilometres to the west of Francistown along the A3 road. If, and when completed, trucks will then no longer have to pass through Francistown. Let’s walk the talk!