The Emergency Triangle and Safety on the Road
We should all be aware of the contents of Regulation 214 of the Road Traffic Act:
What does Regulation 214 of the Road Traffic Act Stipulate?
Answer:
"motor vehicle" means any self-propelled vehicle and includes-
- a trailer; and
- 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, but does not include-
- any vehicle propelled by electrical power derived from storage batteries and which is controlled by a pedestrian; or
- any vehicle with a mass not exceeding 230 kilogrammes and specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of any person suffering from some physical defect or disability and used solely by such person;
Emergency warning signs (Triangles)
Reg 214. (1) For the purpose of this regulation -
(a) the expression "motor vehicle" excludes an ambulance or motor-car first registered before 1 July 2006, a motorcycle, motor tricycle or a motor quadricycle;
(b) "reflective material" means reflective material which under all circumstances is capable of reflecting light; and
(1A) No person shall operate on a public road -
(a) a goods vehicle, minibus or bus, first registered before 1 July 2007 and with a gross vehicle mass of 3500 kilogrammes or less, unless there is carried on such a vehicle at least one emergency warning sign, which-
(i) is a double sided sign having the shape, design, minimum dimensions and colours as illustrated hereunder and of which the red portion on each side-
(aa) shall consist of red reflective material; or
(bb) shall be painted red and have retro-reflectors in each corner; or
(ii) is an emergency sign contemplated in paragraph (b);
(b) any other motor vehicle, unless there is carried on such vehicle at least one emergency warning sign which is a warning sign complying with the requirements of standard specification SABS 1329 "Retro-reflective and Fluorescent Warning Signs for Road Vehicles" Part 1: "Triangles or UN ECE Regulation 27 "Uniform provisions for the approval of advance-warning triangles" and bears a certification mark.
Provided that in the case of a combination of motor vehicles, the emergency warning sign for every motor vehicle of such combination may be carried on the drawing vehicle.
(2) Where a motor vehicle is for any reason stationary on the roadway or the shoulder of a public road, the driver of such vehicle shall display or cause to be displayed at least one emergency warning signs in the manner contemplated in subregulation (4).
(3) No person shall, without lawful cause, remove or tamper with any emergency warning sign, which is being displayed in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
(4) At least one emergency warning sign shall be displayed in the following manner:
(a) The sign shall be placed not less than 45 metres from the motor vehicle along the roadway of the public road concerned in the direction from which traffic will approach such vehicle when travelling on the side of the roadway closest to such motor vehicle;
(b) the sign shall be placed approximately as far from the edge of the roadway as the transverse centre of the motor vehicle is from the edge of the roadway; and
(c) the reflective side of the sign shall face in the direction from which any traffic will approach.
(5) The provisions of subregulation (2) shall not apply where a motor vehicle is stationary-
(a) in a place where a road traffic sign authorises the loading or unloading of a vehicle;
(b) in compliance with any direction conveyed by a road traffic sign or given by a traffic officer;
(c) on account of other traffic on the public road concerned and while the driver occupies the driving seat of such motor vehicle; or
(d) in the course of events accompanying the carrying out of a State or municipal function.
