Meet SA’s best driver
Meje’s diligence wins him R100 000
“I do not want to be the cause of other people’s death.” These are the words of Stephen Meje from Qwa-Qwa, in the Free State, who has been named SA’s best truck driver of the year, earning R100 000 in cash. Witnessing road accidents has had a lasting effect on how he approaches his job, he said. The horrific accident on the N1 between Kranskop and Middlefontein that claimed 27 lives last month left him shattered.
“When I saw that accident, I honestly thought of all the families that lost their loved ones. A truck was involved, and I always say I don’t want to be the cause of people’s grief. “I’m not saying the truck driver was wrong, but I believe if someone is conscious on the road, some accidents can be avoided.”
Meje said often motorists drive recklessly when they become impatient while driving behind a truck. “When I see a vehicle overtaking on a solid line, facing oncoming traffic, I always reduce my speed. It’s all about assessing the situation,” he said.
But what really makes him the best driver?
“It’s simple. I just make sure I adhere to the rules. I never speed and always try to be considerate to other road users.” In his 22 years as a truck driver, he has never had a traffic fine or been involved in an accident.
“I’m always patient on the road. I always plan my trips. I leave on time and this helps me to do my deliveries on time.”
However, Meje said because of the nature of his job, he hardly spends time with his family.
This year will be the first time he spends Christmas with his family.
“The year 2018 is truly good. All the previous years I was always away on work.”
One of the important moments he missed was the birth of his son, now 13.
“I was in Cape Town and my wife called to let me know she gave birth to a baby boy.” Meje said in a month he spends three weeks on the road.
“I make sure that I take my kids to school and fetch them,” Meje said.
On the road, his greatest fear is to be hijacked. He sleeps in the truck and sometimes criminals steal tyres at night. After finishing matric in 1992, his family could not afford to send him to university. He wanted to be a teacher but that was not to be.
He tried his hand at trucking in 1996 as a truck assistant after which he became a fulltime driver.
Highway Heroes is an annual event hosted by Hollard and aims to promote better truck driving. This year more than 1 600 drivers entered the competition. The winner is determined through monitoring drivers for 45 days using trackers.