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eNCA
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- eNCA
SA ranked most dangerous country to drive in
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has been ranked as the most dangerous country to drive in, for the second year running. That is according to the World's Safest and Most Dangerous Roads report, by driver-education platform Zutobi. Factors making roads risky include human error, poor infrastructure, vehicle defects, and weather conditions. Provinces like Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have proven how dangerous the weather can be, and it's made worse by roads filled with potholes and other defects.
IOL News
03-07-2025
- IOL News
Winter road trips: Adventure beckons, but safety must come first
As winter school holidays begin, many South African families are setting off in search of snowy mountains, charming country towns, and coastal escapes. But while the open road offers adventure, it also comes with increased danger, particularly in winter. South Africa has again been ranked the most dangerous country in the world to drive in, according to driver-education platform Zutobi's 2024 report on the World's Safest and Most Dangerous Roads. Local data supports this: Stats SA attributes many accidents to human error, poor infrastructure, vehicle defects, and environmental conditions. Xolisa Bangazi, Managing Director of PEG, part of JSE-listed KAL Group, warns that motorists often underestimate the risk. 'Winter holidays bring a welcome sense of escape for many families. But too often, drivers fail to appreciate just how quickly conditions on the road can change. What looks like a harmless patch of mist or a picture-perfect snowfall can quickly turn dangerous,' says Bangazi. He points to treacherous conditions such as snow, fog, rain, and black ice, particularly on mountain passes in the Western Cape and high-altitude roads in the Free State and Eastern Cape. Just last month, heavy snowfall and rain caused flooding, road closures, and several accidents in the Eastern Cape. 'Drivers often don't realise how little traction they have until it's too late,' he says. 'And overconfidence in vehicle capabilities, like relying on four-wheel drive, can actually increase the danger if people don't adjust their driving.' PEG's roadside teams regularly assist motorists caught out by poor planning. 'At our forecourts, we regularly assist customers who've neglected the basics, bald tyres, faulty windscreen wipers, even missing spares,' says Bangazi. He offers several practical tips: plan routes in advance, check local conditions, avoid travel during heavy rain or snowfall, use real-time navigation tools, and make regular rest stops. 'Fuel stations today are not just places to fill up, they are vital convenience hubs for rest, refreshment, and safety,' he says. Bangazi adds: 'Know when to turn back. A delayed arrival is always better than a dangerous journey.' 'Whether you're chasing misty mountain mornings or coastal sunsets, a well-planned road trip can help you make the most of South Africa's winter wonders, safely,' he concludes. THE MERCURY
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Tennessee ranked 3rd most dangerous state for teenage drivers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Speeding, distracted driving and alcohol are putting teenagers at risk on the road, with teen vehicle deaths on the rise. Tennessee is listed among the most dangerous states for teenage drivers. Nashville drivers nearly 20% more likely to crash than national average, report shows Schools are out for the summer, which means more people are hitting the road, including teen drivers. 'They just don't have the experience yet, like anyone that is new to anything that you're doing,' Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Miller said. Troopers said teenagers' driving inexperience can be dangerous. According to the most recent data from in 2023, Tennessee had 41 deaths for every 100,000 teenage drivers. 'Tennessee is a very unique state,' Miller said. 'It's growing in population, motor vehicle traffic, we still have a lot of rural highways, which pose problems for us when it comes to young drivers.' Investigators said the top causes for teenage driving deaths are alcohol, distracted driving and speeding. 'The slower you go, the safer you are,' Miller said. They also encouraged drivers to buckle up. 'We see a lot of white young white males drive unrestrained in pick-up trucks,' Miller said. 'We don't know why that is, but it's something we're working hard to find out, educate and correct.' Troopers said parents should talk with their teens about safe driving habits to help prevent a heartbreaking knock at the door. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → 'When they see us at their door, they know you're not there to give them good news,' Miller said. 'That their world has just shattered. That their kid has been killed in a car crash.' ranked Tennessee as the third most dangerous state for teen drivers behind Mississippi and Kentucky. Alaska is considered the safest state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Parents of Teens Need To Know About the ‘100 Deadliest Days of Summer'
Being a parent means learning to live with part of your heart outside your body. It's hard enough when they are young enough to run out in the street or get lost in the grocery store. But watching them get behind the wheel of a car and drive away as teenagers brings another level of worry. Teen driving is even scarier when school is out in the summertime, which is why it's been dubbed as the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer.' AAA calls the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day (the unofficial start and end of the summer) the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer' due to the big increase in deadly crashes by teen drivers. More from SheKnows The Viral 'Senior Assassin' Game Comes With Some Risks: Here's What Parents Need To Know The National Road Safety Foundation says that teens are 20% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash during the 100 Deadliest Days than they are during the rest of the year. The organization recommends talking to your teens about distracted driving (which they say accounts for up to 60% of teen crashes) and modeling good behavior yourself. 'Summer is a more dangerous time for teen drivers because of multiple factors,' Dr. Mandy Neeble Diamond, Ph.D., clinical forensic psychologist, senior clinical advisor at SOBRsafe, and mom of two, tells SheKnows. 'These include increased driving time because teens aren't in school during the day. This also means more social gatherings, more passengers since teens are usually with their friends and with more passengers comes more distractions.' She adds that increased traffic also plays a factor in more accidents. 'Parents need to prepare their teen for the responsibility of driving and create as many safeguards as they can,' Dr. Diamond continues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens ages 16-19 than any other age group. (Yes, this includes forgetful grandparents with bad eyesight.) Seriously, though, car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens — with approximately 3,048 teens ages 13-19 killed in the U.S. in car crashes in 2023 alone, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Newly licensed teens, males, and teens driving with other teens or young adult passengers are at even higher risk for a motor vehicle accident, according to the CDC. This is usually due to inexperience, not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and driving while distracted. Zutobi, a driver's education app, released a Teen Driver's Report last year that found 3,082 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers (ages 15-20) in 2022 (the most recent year data is available). It's heartbreaking. 'When school's out, teens are on the road more often,' Lucas Waldenbäck, co-founder of Zutobi, tells SheKnows. 'They're driving to part-time jobs, social events, road trips — usually with friends in the car and often late at night. Without the structure of a school year, they also drive more freely and sometimes less cautiously. And because they're still gaining experience, all that added time behind the wheel comes with more risk.' A recent study by iSharing looked at teen driver fatalities, fatal crashes involving young drivers ages 15-20, and road quality across U.S. states. They found that New Hampshire ranks first for teen driver safety, with the lowest fatality rate per 10k licensed young drivers and minimal fatal crashes. Rhode Island and West Virginia (ranked #3 and #4, respectively) had varying road quality that impacted teen driver safety, despite their overall safety rating. And New Jersey, ranked #2 for safety, still had over 120 teen driver fatalities annually. 'States that prioritize teen driver safety typically share a focus on both education and road infrastructure,' a spokesperson from iSharing said in a statement. 'It's clear that a well-rounded approach, which includes effective driver education, better road conditions, and policies to reduce impaired driving, is essential to minimizing teen accidents. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, addressing these key areas consistently can help create safer driving environments for young people.' USAA conducted data from their SafePilot telematics app, which tracks everything from harsh braking to phone distractions, and found these states to have the highest distraction rates for teen drivers, per a May 2025 press release: Mississippi: 18.1% Louisiana: 15.6% South Dakota: 14.5% Iowa: 14.2% Alabama: 13.8% On the other hand, these states had the lowest distraction rates for teen drivers: Oregon: 9.0% Washington: 9.5% Connecticut: 9.6% Rhode Island: 9.6% Hawaii: 9.7% According to a survey conducted by USAA in 2024, the company's SafePilot app has effectively reduced poor driving habits in teens through real-time feedback and increased awareness. According to the survey, 87% of parents felt their child's driving improved since using the app, as teens were more observant of speed limits, less distracted by their phones, and had more awareness of other drivers. Inexperienced drivers are more dangerous on the road. A new study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) published in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found that there is 'statistically significant evidence' that increased driving practice for teen drivers can reduce the number of crashes and close calls. The study was done by analyzing in-car monitors over 22 months between 2011-2014 and found that those who practiced had 30% fewer accidents. 'Teens that practice driving, especially in a variety of environments, throughout their learner's permit stage help reduce their crash risk and improve safety outcomes once they are out driving on their own,' Charlie Klauer, research scientist at VTTI and lead author of the study, said in a statement. Additionally findings showed that teens who shared a family car had fewer risky driving behaviors than those with their own vehicles; teens who had more supervised driving in diverse conditions experienced fewer crashes when they began driving independently; and in Virginia, many of the teens didn't meet the required 45 hours of driving time during their permit phase. 'Open communication is key,' Dr. Diamond says. 'Teens don't want to feel that they are being preached to and many times disregard what their parents say when they feel it's just more rules, or their parents are just trying to scare them.' She recommends having 'short, to the point, direct conversations.' This might look like showing them news articles of teens who have been in accidents to express your concerns, giving them clear expectations of how you expect them to drive, and relaying the consequences that you'll implement if they aren't safe. 'Tell your teen that they have to not just drive for themselves but for everyone else on the road as well,' Dr. Diamond explains. Emphasize the importance of remaining alert and avoiding distractions. 'This includes looking at their phone, changing their music, and/or reaching for something out of their bag,' she continues. 'Remind them to always wear their seatbelt, don't follow other cars too closely, don't speed, and always be aware of their surroundings.' Remind your teen that there are legal consequences to reckless driving as well. 'Also, I think it's so important to tell your kids that no matter what, they are to never drink and drive,' she adds. 'Not even one sip. And if they do, to know they can always call you, and you will go get them no questions asked.' Utilize technology to help keep your teens safe this summer. Waldenbäck suggests using the Zutobi app that turns learning how to drive into a game. 'If your teen is more visual or tech-minded, tools like consequence simulations in the Zutobi app can really help,' he says. 'They show what happens when drivers make poor choices; a great way to teach without lecturing.' Dr. Diamond recommends using the Life360 app with your kids, which tracks their location at all times. 'It shows exactly where your teen is, how fast they drive, any reckless braking, accelerated starts, and what time they leave and arrive at locations. I use it with my twins, and it's amazing.' She also suggests getting the SOBRsure bracelet, which gives parents 100% certainty that their teen has had nothing to drink before they drive. 'Most teens experiment with drinking and during the summer there are more social gatherings, more parties, and more alcohol use,' she says, adding that the bracelet 'provides a peace of mind and security that all teens and their parents need.' 'I believe it's better to be safe than sorry,' Dr. Diamond adds. And when it comes to teen driving during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, you can never be too safe!Best of SheKnows Michelle Obama's Best Mom Quotes — Because We Could All Use a Dose of Her Wisdom These Art Deco Girl Names Embody the Perfect Blend of Modern Elegance & Vintage Glam There's Something So Beautiful About the Bond Between Brothers
The South African
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
South Africa's drivers ranked WORST in the world
South Africa has been ranked the most dangerous country for drivers for the second consecutive year, according to a global report by driver education platform Zutobi. Out of 53 countries assessed, South Africa placed last , raising serious concerns among transport authorities and road safety experts. The annual study evaluated nations on various safety indicators including road fatality rates, seatbelt usage, highway speed limits, and legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. Norway secured the top spot as the safest driving country, followed by Iceland and Japan. South Africa's overall safety score dropped to a concerning 2.88 out of 10, reflecting stagnation – or even regression – in efforts to curb road deaths. Alarmingly, the country reported the highest rate of alcohol-related road fatalities in the world, with 57.5% of deaths linked to alcohol consumption, despite having a BAC limit of 0.05%. Seatbelt compliance is another area of concern, with only 31% of South Africans reportedly wearing seatbelts in the front seat. This stands in stark contrast to countries like France, where usage is nearly universal at 99.4%. Additional risk factors include the country's national highway speed limit of 120km/h – high by global standards – and poor compliance with road laws, particularly among informal taxi drivers. Corruption within metro police forces, failing infrastructure, and lack of reliable public transport also continue to undermine road safety. Experts point to the need for stronger enforcement, improved driver education, and urgent investment in infrastructure. Currently, poorly maintained roads, limited signage, and inadequate lighting contribute to a dangerous driving environment, particularly in rural areas. While countries like Norway have achieved success through strict law enforcement, advanced infrastructure, and widespread public awareness campaigns, South Africa faces a crisis of confidence in both its road system and those tasked with maintaining it. Authorities are being urged to take immediate, coordinated action to reverse the trend and protect the lives of road users. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
