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'Only an idiot uses a phone while driving' - hard-hitting SA road safety ad

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WARNING: The video featured in this article contains graphic scenes

Cape Town – Driving while using your cellphone, even if you're recording friendly banter between you and your mate, is incredibly dangerous as a new South African video shows. 

The Western Cape transport department hopes to curb one of the primary causes of crashes in the province, distracted driving, with the release of a hard-hitting advert aimed at motorists who use their cellphone behind the wheel.

Will this curb road deaths? 

The video, titled 'The world’s biggest idiot', shows a driver recording his mate while driving. The video starts off on a light note as the driver pokes fun at his friend’s inability to calculate a "pretty tough math question."

The driver can be seen distracted while laughing at his passenger when his friend screams: "Michael watch out!". The pair are ultimately involved in an horrendous crash, with camera capturing the scene.

The video ends with the message: "Only an idiot uses their phone while driving."  


Do you think the advert is effective at curbing cellphone use while driving? Email us
Watch the video below: warning – the clip contains graphic scenes

Festive season law enforcement

Donald Grant, Western Cape MEC of transport and public works, said: "The Western Cape Government has made every effort to ensure safe roads over the festive season. Despite resource constraints, our Provincial traffic officers remain the only traffic service to operate a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year traffic enforcement operation. This will be intensified over the upcoming festive season. 

"There will, once again, be more round-the-clock enforcement operations over this festive season focussed on:
1. Driving under the influence of alcohol
2. Random Breath Testing (RBT)
3.Excessive speed
4. Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD)
5. Driver Fatigue management, carried out later in the night when most fatigue-related crashes occur.
6. Driver/vehicle fitness
7. Distracted driving 
8. Public transport
9. Pedestrian safety
10. Seatbelt compliance  
11. Inter provincial operations
12. Licencing plates 
13. Safe following distances 
14. Transportation of illegal substances/elicit cigarettes

What are some of the most dangerous routes?

Grant said: “Motorists must also exercise extreme caution when travelling on the roads this festive season, particularly at previously identified hotspots for incidents and crashes, namely; the R27 West Coast; the N1, N2, N7; R60; R62; R43/R45; N12; as well as the R300. Enforcement activities will also be focussed on these locations.”

'No nonsense approach'

Grant said: “Our Provincial Traffic Services will work closely with our road safety partners and road users across the province. We hope that our collective efforts will yield a safer festive season for all road users travelling to and from their various destinations. 

"We are very serious about adopting a no nonsense approach over this upcoming festive season. Drivers must be warned that their errant and life-threatening behaviour on our roads will land them in jail. We cannot continue to see lives lost so senselessly on our roads as a result of dangerous driver behaviour and general lawlessness. We are grateful for our partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), who are as committed as we are to helping us prosecute those that continue to threaten the safety of others on our roads."


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