Question

Please supply description of charge/law REG 260 (1) HRTA 93/96. I have tried to contact the local Traffic department but there was no reply.

Answer

This charge relates to Fire Extinguishers – Reg. 260 (1) states that every mini-bus operating for reward shall carry a readily accessible position at least one fire extinguisher.

Question

What is the effect or bad consequences of overloading passengers by motorist? What do you think is the reason they do it? What is the recommendation for them in this situation? i would be appreciate if you could give me an answer.

Answer

Information on this is available in the section "Road Safety & Overloading"

Question

Can a person who is a passenger in a car make a claim to the Road Accident Fund if they are not wearing a seat-belt? By enforcing seatbelt wearing legislation in this country we could save the government millions in medical care alone for those people injured because they failed to buckle-up. Surely it would be a joke if those same people (who were injured as a result of failure to use their seatbelts) were also able to claim further compensastion for injuries that they are themselves responsible for because they decided against using their seat belt? I have not been able to find any information on this and would love to hear how it works.

Answer

Thanks for referring the query .

All motor vehicle passengers are compensated by the Road Accident Fund for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.  The reason is that the blame cannot be put on the passenger for the actual accident.
However where the passenger did not wear a seatbelt his/her claim is apportioned. This means that the  compensation paid out is apportioned by a  certain percentage for failure to wear a seat belt.

The percentage differs from one case to another, for instance, where a person deliberately refused to wear a seat belt,  his or her apportionment will be high.

I hope the response answers your question.

Question

What is the legal height that your cars head lights should be focused at, and over what distance is this? As on both my cars, headlights one points up and the other points way down. This is not only dangerous for me and my family but to on coming traffic. When my vehicles go for services I have requested the mechanics to do this for me, to no avail. I have tried to google this information with no success. Please help.

Answer

Your dips may not "strike the road" more than 45m ahead of the car. Your brights must strike the road a minimum of 100m ahead. If your mechanic can't help you, perhaps ask a local roadworthiness testing station - they have equipment to test whether headlights are in spec or not and they might be able to advise on adjustment.

Question

World wide incidents of road rage is on the increase.Will you adress a panel of law enforcers on the topic''How can effective law enforcement counteract the factors that may lead to road rage'.What will you tell them?

Answer

You can most definitely address law enforcers on such a topic. On the Arrive Alive website we have included quite a bit of information on road rage and it will be important to share this with law enforcers and provide insight on aspects such as the causes of road rage, how to avoid road rage etc. Browse these sections and you will find much info for the address. Research is also available on the website pertaining to the yearly Synovate road rage survey.

Question

May you please tell me where I can find the fines tables (i.e. what excessive speeds attract which fines) on the Arrive Alive site?

Answer

We do not have such tables  - I believe fining is still discretionary.. .Please be advised that currently the magistrate at each magisterial district set out their own fine schedule that is why you find differences in fines. Under the Aarto website (www.aarto.co.za) schedule 3 is where you would find the proposed fine table.

Question

HI,I am the operations manager for a wholesaler in Jhb.We have 10 ldv's and a 4 ton truck,with 8 drivers.In the interest of road safety,I am implementing an in-house driver education program.Can you help me with advice and or a sample test schedule for driver performance and education.My concerns are road safety,economy and the enviroment,efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Answer

The only freely available test schedules will be for the K53 test. Further education, training and awareness is done by private training concerns who will (obviously) charge for the required information.

The professional driver training qualification is probably the best example to follow:

Qualified learners are capable of:
•  Obtaining and communicating road transport operational information.
•  Assessing loads against given permissible load requirements.
•  Planning road transport service delivery that meets specified requirements.
•  Driving a vehicle conveying a specific freight commodity or category of passengers.

Qualified learners also elect to achieve at least one of the following specialisations:
•  Using computerised spreadsheets and word processing.
•  Planning the establishment of a small business according to relevant business principles.
•  Conducting vehicle maintenance according to specified procedures.
•  Operating lifting equipment according to specified procedures.

Aspects of this qualification are what RFA Approved Driving Academies have to present / offer.

Information on the whole qualification has been sent for your information.

Question

Can you please clarify the following: If a Non-SA citizen obtains South African citizenship how long before he has to obtain his South African Drivers license?

Answer

Subregulation stipulates the timeframe within which the licence must be exchanged for a SA driving licence:
(3)  When the holder of a licence referred to in section 23 (1) (a) of the Act or the holder of an international driving permit referred to in section 23 (1) (b) of the Act—
(a)       returns to the Republic to resume permanent residence, such licence or permit shall no longer be deemed to be a valid licence for the pur-poses of Chapter IV of the Act, after one year from the date of return; or
(b)       obtains permission in terms of any law for permanent residence in the Republic, such licence or permit shall no longer be deemed to be a valid licence for the purposes of Chapter IV of the Act, after one year from the date on which such person has taken up permanent residence.

Question

Can you please clarify the following: What are the criteria for an international license to be valid in South Africa?

Answer

Herewith the extract from regulation 110:

Subregulation 1 refers to the criteria for acknowledging  a foreign driving licence or  an international driving licence permit:

1)  Subject to subregulation (3), a driving licence referred to in section 23 (1) (a) of the Act, issued while the holder of it was not permanently or ordinarily resident in the Republic, shall, for the period for, and subject to the conditions under which it was issued, be deemed to be a valid licence for the purposes of Chapter IV of the Act, if—
(a)(i)           the licence has been issued in an official language of the Republic; or
(ii)
    (ii)         a certificate of authenticity or validity relating to the licence issued in an official language of the Republic by a competent authority, or a translation of that licence in such official language, is attached to it;
(b)        such licence contains or has attached to it, a photograph and the signature of the licence holder.

Question

Are passengers allowed in the vehicle with a learner driver?

Answer

Yes - as long as the person seated next to or directly behind holds a valid driver's licence for the class of vehicle concerned (this may include a licence of a vehicle category higher than the vehicle being driven) and has the necessary PrDP as may be required. The learner driver may not transport passengers on a motorcycle.