Question

My house is on a main road. I would like to know according to the law, how far should the curb of the road be to your house.

Answer

The NRTA does not deal with this (only with parking near to or alongside various sizes of shoulder and bridges in terms of pedestrian space for movement). The best bet is the local council – they will have set minimum requirements for their area of jurisdiction. The next possible place to look may be the National Road Signs Manual.

Question

I received an assessment for renewal of my motorcycle license in the post. The only problem is that I have already sold it about 2 months ago to a dealership in Boksburg. To whom can I speak to, to resolve this matter? The paper I got has no contact telephone number on it.

Answer

It is the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle to submit the Notice of change of ownership (NCO) to his/her appropriate registering authority within 21 days of the date of sale. It is advised that the you go to your local license office and complete the NCO form (yellow form) and indicate who the buyer was. Dealerships sometimes offer to do this on behalf of the owner but occasionally some unscrupulous dealers only register the vehicles straight into the name of the new buyer.

Question

Where on the web can I find a document that will explain the laws on roadworthy vehicles?

Answer

It depends on what information is specifically required. The National Road Traffic Regulations has a chapter on the fitness of vehicles. For example it will prescribe which vehicles need a roadworthy every year and the process of updating the roadworthiness of the vehicles. In terms of the requirements to roadworthy a vehicle there are very specific standards for example the SABS 047 "Testing of motor vehicles for roadworthiness" is the code of practice that examiners should follow. There are various other standards that can be obtained from the SABS.

Question

Hi there, thank you for a wonderful website ! Could you assist me in finding out where I couls find out information regarding what Licence is Required for different vehicle types ? We were told by the dealer that my Mercedes Sprinter 17-seater 315 CDI did not need more than a Code 8 but one of our staff was stopped by the Traffic Police and told that it does need a Higher Code licence ! Can you assist me please?

Answer

Hopefully the attached regulatory extract helps. I also attach the professional driving licence requirements. I have highlighted the words or 'designed or adapted'...note that even if the number of passengers including the driver is less than 12 persons a PrDP is still required if it is 'designed or adapted' to carry 12 or more. Click on the link to get the attached document http://www.arrivealive.co.za/downloads/lic_prdp.doc

Question

Please could you inform me whether it is a legal requirement for ambulance drivers to have a PDP, when transporting a patient to hospital. I am referring to our situation at our company where we have our own ambulance in cases of someone being injured on site and needs to be transported to an off-site medical facility. We do not respond to public calls, or transport members of the public. Only people that are injured or fall ill on premises are transported in our ambulance. Once again, if you could please inform me if it is necessary for the driver of the company ambulance to have a PDP. And please could you also refer me to the Act where the above matter is concerned. Much appreciated.

Answer

The National Road Traffic Act states that the driver of vehicle that transports persons for reward shall have a PrDP for category P-Passengers. 115. Certain drivers of certain vehicles to hold professional driving permit 115. (1) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), a professional driving permit shall be held by the driver of- (a) a goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms; (b) a breakdown vehicle; (c) a bus; (d) a minibus- (i) the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms; or (ii) which is designed or adapted for the conveyance of 12 or more persons, including the driver; (e) a motor vehicle used for the conveyance of persons for reward or is operated in terms of a operating licence issued in accordance with the NLTTA; [Subreg. (e) replaced by R.4, G.N. R.871 w.e.f. 1 January 2006 enforceable from 1 July 2006] (f) a motor vehicle the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms to which regulations 273 to 283 apply as contemplated in regulation 274; and [G.N. G.N. R.727 has put subreg (1)(f) into operation on 3 August 2001] [Subreg. (1)(f) substituted by R.25, G.N. R.881 w.e.f. 23 July 2004] (g) a motor vehicle conveying 12 or more persons including the driver. Other operators of ambulances do so at fee (Netcare, ER24, etc). It is therefore a requirement for them to have a PrDP. It may be possible that your vehicle has a GVM that exceeds 3 500 kilograms. If this is the case then a PrDP will be required or it is designed to carry 12 or more person's including the driver. I hope this sheds some light.

Question

I would like to know if the taxi's should have a yellow reflective strip around the vehicle or where it should be positioned.It did not come from the dealer with the strip?

Answer

I presume (for the purposes of this query) that you wish to operate a mini-bus taxi?? If so - the yellow reflective material must be fitted in terms of Regulation 192A (any bus from 1/7/2006) as follows: a) at least 50 mm wide; b) at least 80 % of both the length and width of the vehicle; c) distance between single elements may not exceed half of the length of the shortest element; d) 600 mm or less from the lower part of the body; e) at least 250 mm but not more than 1 500 mm above the ground f) identify as closely as possible the overall shape of the vehicle to the side and rear g) must be yellow

Question

What license do you need to drive a trike?

Answer

In terms of the regulations a code A licence is required. A code A1 licence is only applicable to engine capacities less than 125 cubic centimeters. A definition of code A1 and A licences are: [b]A1[/b] A motor cycle without side-car which has an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres, or which is propelled by electrical power, but does not include- (i) any vehicle propelled by electrical power derived from storage batteries and which is pedestrian controlled; or (ii) any vehicle with a tare not exceeding 230 kilograms and specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of any person suffering from some physical defect or disability or a person of old age and used solely by such person. Includes authorisation to drive- (i) (aa) a motor cycle with a side-car; (bb) a motor tricycle; (cc) a motor quadrucycle, which has an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres; and (ii) a vehicle having pedals and an engine or an electric motor as an integral part thereof or attached thereto and which is designed or adapted to be propelled by means of such pedals, engine or motor, or both such pedals and engine or motor. [b]A[/b] A motor cycle without a side-car which has an engine with a cylinder capacity exceeding 125 cubic centimetres. Includes authorisation to drive- (i) a motor cycle with a side-car; (ii) a motor tricycle; (iii) a motor quadrucycle; and (iv) any other motor vehicle for which a code A1 driving licence is required.

Question

Hi. I hope you can help me or at least point me to someone/somewhere that can help. What does our traffic laws say about the placement of a GPS device on your front windshield? (is directly adjacent to the rear view mirror, to its right, acceptable?) Also what about listening to audio from a mobile audio player (such as an Ipod) in your car, having earphones stuck in your ears?

Answer

The legislation does not alow for any object to be placed in such a manner or position that it will interfere with, or obstruct the view of, the driver. This does not necessarily refer to only directly in front of the driver, but includes all angles which the driver would need to use to observe traffic and / or pedestrians. Low down on the dash seems to be the best point for these (near the radio or simuilar position remember that the best alternative is to find a safe area, pull off, and then interact with the device. Alternatively, a passenger can assist). It would seem that a fair number of these devices are attached on top of the dash in the middle of the vehicle, but low down on the windscreen. Attaching next to the mirror is not a good idea (although not specifically referred to in legislation but see the point earlier). Driving with music directly "piped" to your ears is also not a good idea - you cannot hear hooters or any other sounds that would make your driving a safer experience. There is no direct legislation referring to this - apart from general duties of te driver to drive in a safe manner / charges of negligent driving could be argued here.

Question

We would like to know more details regarding the issue of issuing Transport permits to staff that are being transported to and from our Constructions site in / on Company vehicles.

Answer

Permits required for transportation are two: 1) An operator’s permit issued for a vehicle to allow performance of a function for a year 2) A professional Driving Permit (PrDP) to a driver to convey a specified category of goods based on vehicle or function of transportation. In your case, the type of vehicle needs to be determined (are you using a mini bus or commercial vehicle) as this has further implications as well. What transport permits are being referred to? For staff being transport in a vehicle that is designed to carry more than 12 people including the driver, the driver must be in possession of a valid professional driving permit and the vehicle must be roadworthied every year upon licensing. An operator card showing category for passengers will also be issued to the vehicle upon licensing if the vehicle is a heavy passenger vehicle or a vehicle carrying persons for reward. With regard to transportation of workers on pickups and trucks regulation 247 is applicable: 247. Circumstances under which persons may be carried on goods vehicle 247. No person shall operate on a public road a goods vehicle conveying persons unless that portion of the vehicle in which such persons are being conveyed is enclosed to a height of (a) at least 350 millimetres above the surface upon which such person is seated; or (b) at least 900 millimetres above the surface on which such person is standing, in a manner and with a material of sufficient strength to prevent such person from falling from such vehicle when it is in motion.

Question

My family and I have relocated to Gauteng...how do we change our vehicle registrations etc. and where do we go to do this?

Answer

You have to change your addresses at your appropriate registering authority (RA) which I assume would be Germiston as your address indicates. Below is the latest contact details for Germiston RA. You have to change your address within 21 days however, your current licence numbers will remain valid until the licence disc expires and must be changed upon renewal. You can change them when you update your address details if you so wish. Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Licence Department, Portion 57 & 63 Of Klip00rtjie 110 Osborne Avenue Wadeville Germiston 011 8745900 011 8279548