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Driving in South Africa – Recommendations, Tips and Tricks
19. The fine for speeding can be up to 500 rand. The police are allowed to charge penalty for this type of violation right on the spot. If the offender has been caught by a radar or camera, then he will receive the fine receipt in the mail.
20. When traveling on deserted country roads, it is not recommended to drive at a high speed. The reason is that wild animals are not rare in the countryside. They often go to the road, causing serious accidents.
21. In small towns, children can also become a substantial source of danger to drivers. They often play near roads and see absolutely no danger in cars.
22. As a rule, it is not difficult to find a car park in a big city. For this purpose, it is enough to know where the nearest shopping mall or large store is located. There are always parking lots in the territory of shopping centers. As the majority of them are paid, it is almost always possible to find a free space on them.
23. In spite of the fact that heavy fines are imposed on traffic violations, the death rate on the roads of South Africa still remains high. Local drivers are also distinguished by the rude and aggressive driving style.
Hints on Car Hire in South Africa
When choosing a car for your South Africa trip, don’t forget to check and compare the franchise amount (indicated in the rental conditions) for all cars considered in your selection. The franchise may vary from 200 to 2000 euro/dollars even for cars of the same class. A thorough comparison will allow you to choose the option with the lowest franchise.
During your booking, we will offer you to take a full coverage of the franchise ('No Risk' or 'No Excess' package). If you book a car without full coverage, it is recommended to take it at the pick-up time - this will substantially reduce your financial liability in South Africa for the whole rental period.
During your car pick-up in South Africa, do not forget to check what to do in breakdown-, accident- or theft-cases. Most of our offers include 'Breakdown Assistance' package. Besides this, every rental office would be happy to assist you with this package.
Prior to the car return, please check your voucher for the fuel conditions. If it is indicated that a driver shall return the car with a full tank, do not forget to refuel it on the way back, this will save you from additional charges at the rental office.
If you are looking for a car hire in South Africa, we advise you to check OrangeSmile.com actual rental offers. Just use the orange search form at the top. We guarantee that you would not be able to find better rates anywhere else!
25. Foreign guests should follow the traffic regulations set in the country. Do not cut in front of other cars, and do not express your dissatisfaction with the behavior of other drivers. It is possible to avoid all kinds of unpleasant situations if behave properly and show respect to other traffic participants.
26. In the province of Limpopo, cartage is considered a full member of traffic just like ordinary cars. It is often possible to see teams of donkeys on local roads. In many parts of the country, this is the only transport available.
27. Quite an interesting fact - owners of animal traction need to pass a number of mandatory procedures just like other drivers. All the harnesses must be registered and are inspected. Each team of animals has its own unique number, just like an ordinary car.
28. Cartage is considered a source of potential danger in the road, so all the carts must necessarily be equipped with reflective elements. Moreover, all drivers of carts are required to wear special reflective vests.
29. Drivers, who will drive on the same road with horse-drawn transport, have to be very careful. Do not try to overtake a cart on a narrow road. It is also not recommended to honk in order to make cart drivers increase the speed.
30. The maximum permitted level of blood alcohol content for drivers in South Africa is 0.5 ppm. In addition to a heavy fine (up to 1200 USD), the violation imposes a number of serious penalties. For example, the driver may be imprisoned for up to 6 months, and, in particularly severe cases, the offender may face the imprisonment for up to 12 months.
32. Johannesburg is the city with the most rapid and heavy traffic in the country. On weekdays, roads leading to such areas as Illovo, Sandton and Rosebank are always overloaded.
33. Unhurried drivers should not expect that local motorists will give them way on busy routes, and then will patiently wait until the slow driver finally finished his maneuver. It is important to act in strict accordance with the established traffic rules and be very determined.
34. In general, in large cities the traffic is very slow between 7:00 am and 8:30 am, and between 16:30 to 18:00. If possible, it is better to refrain from using private transport during these hours.
35. The road that connects Johannesburg with Pretoria is considered one of the busiest routes in the country. On weekdays, there are always heavy traffic jams on the road, and car accidents happen almost every day.
36. All traffic signs that are installed on local roads, can be divided into three categories – warning, prohibitory and informational signs. Prohibitory signs usually have round shape and a blue background. Warning signs are triangular, and informational signs are always easy to distinguish because of their green background.
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