- Offences added to section 35 on automatic suspension of driving licences – conviction on a speeding offence of driving faster than 30 km/h over speed limit in an urban area and 40 km/h over speed limit outside an urban area will result in the automatic suspension of a person’s driving licence. The reasons for the suspension not to be enforced by a Magistrate, must be related to the offence, not the offender.
- New motor vehicles registered after 1 August 2010 must have number plates that are fitted with pop rivets or screws. If it cannot be fitted to the vehicle it must be fitted to a bracket that complies with SANS 973.
- As of 1 February 2011 persons who obtain driving licences for a code C, C1, EC or EC1 driving licence will not be allowed to drive a motor vehicle that requires a code B or code EB licence (in old terms – a person with a code 10, 11, 13 or 14 licence cannot drive a vehicle for which you need a code 08 licence). This will only apply to new licence holders.
- Foreign licences are accepted if the person got the licence while he was not in SA for a period longer than 3 months. Foreign licences are valid in SA until it expires in the country of issue but not for longer than 5 years after the person got permanent residence in SA
- Directional Stability Control Devices for mini and midibuses are introduced through a certification process that forms part of the roadworthy test. It applies to all mini and midibuses and not only newly manufactured vehicles.
- Left-hand drive steered vehicles: Legality is clarified – the owner of such a vehicle may, if the vehicle was licensed in his name before 23 July 2004, sell the vehicle and the new owner my licence it.
- An amendment to regulation 332 was published and lists the evidential breath testers that may be used to collect evidential breath samples and the certificate issued by the manufacturer or supplier may be used as evidence in cases by the mere production thereof.
- Management representatives of testing stations are limited to testing 150 motor vehicles per month.
Also view:
Car Insurance to be affected by amended Road Traffic Act
Truck licences still valid for cars after review by Transport Department
Update: Road Traffic Amendment 18 – GG 33980 and draft Amendment 19 – GG 33979
The amendment concerning the driving licence legislation that was supposed to become effective on 1 February 2011, where a new holder of a Class C1, C, EC1 or EC licence was not allowed to drive a Class B or EB vehicle has been amended again.
Amendment 18 that is published in Government Gazette 33980 of 1 February 2011 has changed the legislation back to the position that applied before 1 February 2011 and new Class C1, C, EC1 or EC holders of licences may drive Class B or EB vehicles respectively.
The gazette also corrected an error in regulation 138(1)(j) – the word “roadworthy” was replaced with the word “unroadworthy”