Driver shares vulnerable moment on JHB road
Sometimes, practising patience and kindness on the road can save you from having a bad day.
There's a stereotype associated with learner drivers that tend to have experienced drivers form a "mean girl" attitude on the roads.
The real frustration isn’t necessarily the learner driver trying to navigate public roads, but rather the experienced driver who believes their driver's licence somehow makes them superior.
Driving instructors frequently advise learners not to get distracted by the honking or shouting from other drivers, but to stay focused on the task at hand – like getting the car started and moving after stalling on a steep hill.
We have enough road rage and don't need to encourage a bad attitude from one driver to another. Instead of getting frustrated with a learner driver, why not politely offer a smile? After all, no one was born an expert.
A young businesswoman recently shared a video of herself driving on a Johannesburg road. While we assume she's no longer a learner driver as she's on her own in the car, the video provides an opportunity for her to reflect on her progress and perhaps offer encouragement to others facing similar challenges.
In the video, she’s driving along, only to stall on what she refers to as her “usual spot” – a steep hill she’s been working to conquer.
She shares a vulnerable moment, trying to ease her anxiety about stalling on a steep hill, only to encounter a motorist who responds by flipping her off.
Check out the video below from TikTok.
@lepulana_s 😭😭😭😂People will test you hey, that time im holding my breath so the car doesn’t switch off!!! #learners #manualcar #driving #learnerdriver #steephill ♬ original sound - Lepulana_S
While it’s understandable to feel frustrated, we don't encourage retaliation, which was evident from her reaction to the motorist's lousy behaviour.
Do better, don't retaliate – instead, ignore the negativity, and move forward.
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Image courtesy of TikTok