Road rage erupts in Ballito

Reckless drivers put their own and everyone else’s lives in danger in an incident of road rage on the N2 between Salt Rock and Ballito on Monday, October 13.

IPSS Medical Rescue paramedic Darin Singh was driving behind an SUV when he witnessed an incident between a red Polo and a silver Mercedes, both registered in Gauteng. Singh said both cars were driving in the fast lane.

“The Polo wanted to overtake but the Mercedes stayed in the fast lane.

“The Polo then overtook the Mercedes in the left lane and clipped the Mercedes as he returned to the fast lane after overtaking,” said Singh.

Sing said the two drivers then drove side by side, shouting at each other through open windows before the Mercedes forced the Polo off the road and the argument heated up.

“The SUV also pulled over, the driver climbed out of his vehicle and went to the driver of the Mercedes who I think was his father,” said Singh.According to the case docket the driver of the SUV laid charges of assault and malicious damage to property on his father’s behalf against the driver of the Polo who allegedly threatened the complainant’s father shouting: “I will f**k you up!”

The docket states the Mercedes driver’s version is that the Polo came speeding from behind, flashed his lights, overtook the Mercedes on the left, cut him off and the two vehicles then drove next to each other, drivers arguing, before coming to a standstill on the side of the road.

The docket said the Polo driver attempted to assault the Mercedes driver but missed him and hit the car instead.

The Polo driver went on to break the Mercedes’ rear window and break the side mirror in retaliation for being pepper sprayed.

According to the docket the Polo driver laid a counter charge of assault against the Mercedes driver for pepper spraying him.

The Polo driver’s version according to the docket is that the Mercedes was driving recklessly in front of him and then suddenly hit the brakes.

As the Polo moved to the slow lane the Mercedes slammed the Polo on the right, nearly causing the Polo driver to lose control of his vehicle.

According to the docket the two vehicles pulled over, the Polo driver requested the Mercedes driver’s details which he refused to give before pepper spraying the Polo driver.

The Polo’s accident report indicated damage to the left side of the Polo. The silver Mercedes’ accident report was not available at the time of going to press.

QUESTION: Have you ever been a victim of road rage, or yourself erupted in anger or lashed out at another driver? Why is this becoming so common on our roads?