Dashcam Shows Truck’s Dangerous Overtake Leading to Near Head-On Crash

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A near head-on collision involving a dangerously overtaking truck and an oncoming bakkie has been caught on video on an unnamed road in South Africa, highlighting once again how quickly reckless decisions can place multiple lives at risk.

In the footage, which was recorded from the cab of the overtaking truck itself, the truck driver is seen attempting to overtake a convoy of three trucks travelling closely together. As the driver clears the first truck, a white Toyota Land Cruiser bakkie suddenly appears in the oncoming lane, leaving the overtaking truck with no immediate space to return to its correct lane.

With the two trucks ahead travelling almost bumper-to-bumper, the overtaking driver is left trapped in the oncoming lane. In a moment that could easily have turned fatal, the truck driver drastically reduces speed and steers onto the right-hand shoulder of the road, effectively removing himself from the path of oncoming traffic and creating a narrow gap for vehicles to pass safely.

At the same time, the approaching bakkie driver appears to reduce speed, allowing enough space for the truck to complete its evasive manoeuvre. Thanks to these last-minute defensive actions, the situation ends without a collision, damage, or injuries.

While the outcome was fortunate, the video clearly shows that the overtake itself was extremely dangerous and should never have been attempted. Road safety experts consistently warn that overtaking multiple heavy vehicles in one manoeuvre significantly increases risk, especially on undivided roads with limited visibility and no escape routes.

The incident has drawn comparisons to the recent Vanderbijlpark scholar transport tragedy, where a head-on collision between a truck and a scholar transport minibus claimed the lives of 12 learners. In that crash, both drivers only reacted at the very last moment, leaving no margin for error. Unlike the near-miss captured in this latest video, there was insufficient early speed reduction or decisive positioning to prevent the impact.

In the recent near-collision, the overtaking truck driver was clearly in the wrong. However, by reducing speed aggressively and moving off the road early enough, he signalled his intentions and gave the oncoming driver time to respond. The bakkie driver’s visible reduction in speed further helped prevent disaster.

These contrasting outcomes underline a critical road safety lesson. Defensive driving is not about being right or wrong. It is about preparing for the worst instead of hoping for the best. Early recognition of danger, decisive speed reduction, and clear evasive action can be the difference between a close call and a mass casualty incident.

Authorities continue to urge all motorists, especially heavy vehicle drivers, to avoid risky overtaking manoeuvres and to always plan for the unexpected. As this footage shows, when defensive driving is exercised, even a serious mistake does not have to end in tragedy.