{"id":798290,"date":"2024-11-02T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=798290"},"modified":"2024-11-04T16:11:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T14:11:51","slug":"south-africa-ranks-among-the-scariest-countries-to-drive-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/798290\/south-africa-ranks-among-the-scariest-countries-to-drive-in\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa ranks among the scariest countries to drive in"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa ranks among the world\u2019s most nerve-wracking countries for tourists to drive in, placing 21st on a list of the top 25 most anxiety-inducing destinations for drivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compiled by UK-based Scrap Car Comparison<\/a>, this ranking was calculated from a \u201cscare score\u201d survey, where South Africa scored 6.8 out of 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study surveyed 2,000 motorists from diverse backgrounds, including Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the USA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respondents were asked to rate how anxious they would feel about driving in 49 popular travel destinations, from \u201cnot nervous at all\u201d to \u201cextremely nervous.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants were also encouraged to share specific concerns about driving abroad, revealing insights into the unique stress factors associated with international driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India topped the list with a scare score of 7.15, known for its chaotic roads where cars, motorbikes, rickshaws, and even livestock coexist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For foreign drivers, navigating India\u2019s roads is not only a test of reflexes but also an immersion into the country\u2019s distinct driving culture, where honking serves as a form of communication rather than just a warning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rural roads in India are often underdeveloped, requiring extra caution, especially when passing through villages and agricultural areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These conditions can make driving a daunting experience, especially for tourists unfamiliar with the traffic and road etiquette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venezuela ranks second with a scare score of 6.97, where unpredictable road conditions and fuel shortages are common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potholed roads pose significant risks, and fuel scarcity often results in long lines at gas stations, adding to travellers\u2019 frustrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venezuelan traffic laws are also loosely enforced, leading to erratic driving behaviour and a lack of consistent lane discipline, creating a stressful experience for visitors unaccustomed to these hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In third place, Zimbabwe scored 6.90, where the rough condition of rural roads demands off-road vehicles for those venturing outside major cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fuel shortages are also frequent, and traffic checkpoints are common, where police are known to target tourists with demands for bribes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These challenges make navigating Zimbabwe\u2019s roadways a daunting prospect for international drivers unfamiliar with the terrain and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, New Zealand placed 25th, with a scare score of 5.77, while the Netherlands was noted as one of the least intimidating countries to drive in, scoring only 4.41. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known for its well-maintained infrastructure and clear road signage, the Netherlands offers foreign drivers a relatively stress-free experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extensive cycling culture also contributes to more organised and predictable traffic patterns, easing the anxiety for first-time visitors behind the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The table below, as compiled by Scrap Car Comparison, details the top 25 most nerve-racking countries for tourists to drive in the world:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank<\/th>Country<\/th>Scare score (out of 10)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1<\/strong><\/td>India<\/td>7.15<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/strong><\/td>Venezuela<\/td>6.97<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/strong><\/td>Zimbabwe<\/td>6.90<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/strong><\/td>Morocco<\/td>6.87<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/strong><\/td>Thailand<\/td>6.86<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/strong><\/td>China<\/td>6.84<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/strong><\/td>Tunisia<\/td>6.79<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/strong><\/td>Brazil<\/td>6.71<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/strong><\/td>Colombia<\/td>6.71<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/strong><\/td>Malaysia<\/td>6.70<\/td><\/tr>
11<\/strong><\/td>Mexico<\/td>6.69<\/td><\/tr>
12<\/strong><\/td>Turkey<\/td>6.68<\/td><\/tr>
13<\/strong><\/td>Vietnam<\/td>6.67<\/td><\/tr>
14<\/strong><\/td>Chile<\/td>6.52<\/td><\/tr>
15<\/strong><\/td>Hungary<\/td>6.52<\/td><\/tr>
16<\/strong><\/td>Argentina<\/td>6.48<\/td><\/tr>
17<\/strong><\/td>Singapore<\/td>6.47<\/td><\/tr>
18<\/strong><\/td>Ecuador<\/td>6.31<\/td><\/tr>
19<\/strong><\/td>Japan<\/td>6.27<\/td><\/tr>
20<\/strong><\/td>United Arab Emirates<\/td>6.12<\/td><\/tr>
21<\/strong><\/td>South Africa<\/td>6.08<\/td><\/tr>
22<\/strong><\/td>Hong Kong<\/td>5.97<\/td><\/tr>
23<\/strong><\/td>Greece<\/td>5.86<\/td><\/tr>
24<\/strong><\/td>Italy<\/td>5.83<\/td><\/tr>
25<\/strong><\/td>New Zealand<\/td>5.77<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The study highlighted that the most anxiety-inducing factor for travellers is driving on the opposite side of the road, with 56.2% of respondents naming this as their top concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Close behind, 55.9% of tourists reported feeling nervous about the unpredictable driving behaviour of other road users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In third place, with 52.7%, was the fear of unknowingly breaking local traffic laws, adding an additional layer of worry for those navigating unfamiliar legal requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This global ranking underscores the challenges that come with driving in a foreign country, where local customs, road conditions, and enforcement of laws can vary greatly, often making the experience more stressful than expected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those planning to drive in high-ranking countries like South Africa, Venezuela, or Zimbabwe, thorough preparation and awareness of local driving norms can be crucial in easing some of these anxieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top 10 reasons drivers are nervous about travelling the roads in other countries are summarised below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank<\/th>Concern<\/th>Average % of drivers stressed about this concern<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1.<\/strong><\/td>Driving on the opposite side of the road<\/td>56.2%<\/td><\/tr>
2.<\/strong><\/td>Dangerous driving of other motorists on the road<\/td>55.9%<\/td><\/tr>
3.<\/strong><\/td>Accidentally breaking a road law<\/td>52.7%<\/td><\/tr>
4.<\/strong><\/td>Driving on unfamiliar roads<\/td>48.1%<\/td><\/tr>
5.<\/strong><\/td>Not understanding the road signs<\/td>43.1%<\/td><\/tr>
6.<\/strong><\/td>General safety e.g. car theft<\/td>33.3%<\/td><\/tr>
7.<\/strong><\/td>Being involved in a traffic collision and not being able to communicate in the local language<\/td>29.3%<\/td><\/tr>
8.<\/strong><\/td>Getting lost<\/td>28.6%<\/td><\/tr>
9.<\/strong><\/td>Getting pulled over and not being able to communicate in the local language<\/td>22.2%<\/td><\/tr>
10.<\/strong><\/td>Encountering unexpected road conditions<\/td>18.2%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Read: Petrol price pain expected next week<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are the top 25 scariest countries to drive in – and South Africa is among them. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":798295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11119],"tags":[5669,20897,853],"class_list":["post-798290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motoring","tag-driving","tag-scrap-car-comparison","tag-south-africa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/798290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=798290"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/798290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":798509,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/798290\/revisions\/798509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/798295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=798290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=798290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=798290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}