Watching football, embracing life

A friend of mine is going to South Africa for the World Cup. So far, he's got tickets for the Germany–Australia game in Durban on 13 June and the Italy–New Zealand game a week later in Nelspruit. He plans to drive the 500 km between the two cities. If he can get a ticket, he'll drive all the way back to Durban for the Brazil–Portugal game on 25 June. His family are terrified by all this because 10,000 people die in traffic accidents in South Africa each year. As well, they drive on the left there and wild animals wander across the roads all the time. Oh, and a website that offers "road safety advice for foreigners driving in South Africa" advises: "Always drive with your doors locked and windows wound up, especially when stopped at traffic lights." The country has a terrifying crime problem. The good news, though, is that the wearing of seat belts is compulsory in South Africa.

It's a long way from Sussex to South Africa, but there is a connection in that the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership commissioned a wonderful video about wearing seat belts. Drive carefully on this holiday weekend.