[W126 Coupe] 300SE meets Sucky Utility Vehicle (SUV)

[Dawid Loubser]

I can also attest to the ridiculous driving standards here in South  
Africa!
In the cities, this is in a large part because of the minibus taxis  
who drive
like complete lawless maniacs, in emergency lanes, on the wrong sides  
of the
roads, over pavements, etc etc.

And of course, also the SUV drivers, who do seem to usually disregard  
all "lower" forms
of motoring... Every day, driving to work, I am not in the least  
surprised at our high
road death toll rate, as everybody generally drives like complete  
maniacs. I've come to
see it as a sort of "natural selection" mechanism... People get what  
they deserve, but there's
always at least one innocent party involved, and that's the sad bit.

Three weeks ago a taxi, driving illegally in the emergency lane  
during a traffic jam, pushed
in front of me, taking out my indicator light (luckily only that).  
Will you believe it, MB could find
one (1) left indicator light in our country (somewhere out in the  
Orange Free State in some farming town),
and shipped it to me, at a cost of R1,000.00. I am shocked at the  
poor parts supply for SEC cars over here.

I am getting more and more paranoid about driving my car!

regards,
Dawid


On 21 Mar 2007, at 8:38 vm., Divov wrote:


> Hi Mark,

> You live in a country with the most courteous and law abiding  

> motorists I have ever come across.

> Your low road death tolls are a testimony to Aussie driving.  

> Patient and non-aggressive

> I have driven in the USA and Europe and nowhere comes anywhere near  

> Australia.

> I live in Africa and driving here is a total joke...the wild west  

> has nothing on us!

> Our average daily road death toll exceeds your total festive season  

> death toll

>

> Regards

> Alec

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: mark

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 6:26 AM

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] 300SE meets Sucky Utility Vehicle (SUV)

>

> Hi Dick,

>

> Sorry to hear about any MB damage, especially when you were  

> stationary!

>

> In Australia snowploughs are rare but SUV’s are still in great  

> numbers.

>

> We are more inclined to have the Mitsubishi Pajero or the Toyota  

> Prado – but I think it is like Gym memberships… we buy them with  

> the intension of using them!

>

> Then after a couple of years you get over it.

>

> For our mine site work they fit the need well, especially when the  

> Australian outback gets rain – in the burbs… no.

>

>

>

> Driving safety will always be an issue, driver distraction being a  

> major factor. It is illegal to use mobile/cell phones here when  

> driving, but too much signage and summer skirts also create issues.

>

> Awareness training for new drivers and TV reminders has to be part  

> way to the answer.

>

> Take care guys.

>

> Mark Addison

>

> 560 ’89 SEC

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