If you haven’t had an argument about which city has the best and worst drivers, are you even South African?

The conversation has been going on forever, with everyone convinced that their city has the finest drivers in the country.

Now, finally, someone did some actual research, so we can settle this once and for all.

According to BusinessTech, Discovery Vitality spent a year compiling their Road to a Healthier South Africa report, which was published last Thursday.

The health programme presented the latest insights on the physical activity levels and driving behaviour of over half a million Vitality members in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria.

“There are two main behaviours causing significant illness and deaths among South Africans. One, how we drive. Two, how much we move. The statistics are staggering,” said head of Vitality Wellness, Dr Craig Nossel.

So who came out on top with the best drivers in the country?

Capetonians exercise the most and are the nation’s safest drivers – and there is a correlation between the two, says Discovery Vitality

From data collected over 2016, 2017 and 2018, Discovery Vitality’s report found that Cape Town fares the best in driving behaviour across the major metropolitan cities.

As if Capetonians needed a reason to be smugger. Still, we won. So suck it, Jozi.

Durban proved to be the worst nationally, with their driving behaviour measuring a staggering 11% below Cape Town.

The top five from best to worst are: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

It’s not all about the eternal driving disagreement, though.

The carnage on South African roads is well known to us all, said Prof Sebastian van As, head of the trauma unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. “The Road Traffic Management Corporation reports that, over 2016, a total of 14,071 people died on SA’s roads, a figure 9% up from 2015.

“This is the highest annual road death toll since 2007 – when 14,920 people died. Easter road fatalities spiked by 51% between 2016 and 2017. In 2015 alone, road traffic crashes cost our economy R178 billion,” he said.

The major cause of road accidents has been phone usage. So buckle up, put the phone on speaker, and stop doing your makeup in your rear-view mirror, Susan, we all have places to be.

[source:businesstech]