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NATIONAL LEGISLATION OVERVIEWS
NATIONAL LEGISLATION OVERVIEWS
Road Traffic Act, No. 29 of 1989
Long title
To consolidate and amend the laws relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles and other vehicles and the drivers thereof, and the regulation of traffic on public roads; and to provide for certain requirements of fitness; and for matters incidental thereto.
Table of contents
Legislation Text Access Point
To consolidate and amend the laws relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles and other vehicles and the drivers thereof, and the regulation of traffic on public roads; and to provide for certain requirements of fitness; and for matters incidental thereto.
Table of contents
| SECTION | TITLE |
| ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS | |
| 1. | Definitions. |
| CHAPTER
I. REGISTERING
AUTHORITIES AND OFFICERS |
|
| 2. | Appointment
of registering authorities. |
| 3. | Appointment
of officers. |
| 4. | Application
for registration as inspector of licences, examiner of
vehicles, examiner for drivers’ licences or traffic officer. |
| 5. | Registration
and grading of officers. |
| 6. | Suspension
and withdrawal of registration of officer. |
| 6A. | Right
of appeal to Minister. |
| 7. | Establishment
of Training Committee for Traffic Personnel. |
| 7A. | Establishment
of Committee
for Road Traffic Law Enforcement. |
| 8. | Powers
and duties of inspector of licences. |
| 9. | Powers
and duties of examiner of vehicles. |
| 10. | Powers
and duties of examiner for drivers’ licences. |
| 11. | Powers
and duties of traffic officer. |
| 12. | Failure
to comply with instruction or direction of inspector of
licences, traffic officer, examiner of vehicles or peace officer. |
| 13. | Impersonating
authorized officer or peace officer or inducing any such officer to
forsake his duty. |
| CHAPTER
II. REGISTRATION AND
LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES |
|
| 14. | Registration
and licensing of motor vehicles. |
| 14A. | Application
for
registration, and registration of manufacturer, builder and importer. |
| 14B. | Suspension
and cancellation
of registration of manufacturer, builder or importer. |
| 14C. | Manufacturer,
builder or
importer to register motor vehicles. |
| 14D. | Right
of appeal to Minister. |
| 14E. | Appointment
of inspectorate
of manufacturers, builders and importers. |
| CHAPTER
III. FITNESS OF
DRIVERS |
|
| PART
I. LICENSING |
|
| 15. | Driver
of motor vehicle to be licensed. |
| 16. | Licence
to drive, either learner’s or driver’s licence. |
| 17. | Prescribing,
classification and extent of learner’s or driver’s
licence. |
| 18. | Disqualification
from obtaining or holding learner’s or driver’s
licence. |
| 19. | Failure
to disclose qualification in respect of licence authorizing driving of
motor vehicle. |
| 20. | Application
for registration of driver’s licence testing centre. |
| 21. | Registration
and grading of driver’s licence testing centre. |
| 21A. | Suspension
or cancellation
of registration of driver’s licence testing centre. |
| 22. | Appointment of inspectorate of driver’s licence testing centre. |
| 22A. | Right
of appeal to Minister. |
| 23. | Application
for and issue of learner’s licence. |
| 24. | Application
for and issue of driver’s licence. |
| 24A. | |
| 24B. | Special provisions regarding drivers’ licences which ceased to be valid in terms of certain provisions of the road traffic ordinance. |
| 25. | Power
of Administrator in respect of examination and testing of applicant for
learner’s or driver’s licence. |
| 26. | Holder
of licence to drive motor vehicle shall give notice of change of place
of residence. |
| 27. | Right
of appeal to Administrator. |
| 28. | When
licence not issued in terms of this Act deemed to be driver’s
licence. |
| 29. | Department
of State may issue learner’s or driver’s licence
only to person in its employment. |
| 30. | Suspension
or cancellation by Administrator of licence authorizing driving of
motor vehicle. |
| 31. | Lapsing
of endorsement on licence. |
| 32. | Cancellation
or amendment of endorsement on licence. |
| 33. | Instructor
to be registered. |
| 34. | Application
for registration as instructor. |
| 35. | Registration
and grading of instructors. |
| 36. | Suspension
and cancellation of registration of instructor. |
| 37. | Right
of appeal to Minister. |
| 38. | Voidness
of learner’s licence or driver’s licence issued
contrary to provisions of this Chapter. |
| 39. | Use
of learner’s or driver’s licence by another person
prohibited. |
| 40. | Unlicensed
driver not to be employed or permitted to drive motor vehicle. |
| PART
TWO. PROFESSIONAL
DRIVING PERMIT |
|
| 41. | Permit
required by professional driver. |
| 42. | Prescribing
of classification and extent of professional driving permit. |
| 43. | Application
for professional driving permit. |
| 44. | Registration
of professional driver. |
| 45. | Issue of
professional driving
permit. |
| 46. | Suspension or
cancellation of
professional driving permit by Administrator. |
| 47. | Right of
appeal to Minister. |
| 48. | Driver of
motor vehicle in respect
of which operator is registered, to hold professional driving permit. |
| 49. | Voidness of
professional driving
permit issued contrary to provisions of this Chapter. |
| PART
THREE. DRIVING HOURS |
|
| 50. | Drivers to comply with driving hours. |
| 51. | Certain classes of motor vehicles to contain recording device to measure time. |
| 52. | Duties of
operator and driver of
certain class of motor vehicle with regard to records. |
| 53. | Records
produced by recording
device may be removed and analyzed. |
| PART
FOUR. GENERAL |
|
| 54. | Production of
licence and permit
to court. |
| 55. | Court may
issue order for
endorsement, suspension or cancellation of
licence or permit or disqualify person from obtaining licence or permit. |
| 55A. | On conviction
of certain offences
licence and permit shall be suspended
for minimum period and learner’s or driver’s
licence cannot be obtained. |
| 56. | Procedure
subsequent to
endorsement, suspension or cancellation of licence or permit. |
| CHAPTER
IV. FITNESS OF
VEHICLES |
|
| 57. | Testing
station to be registered. |
| 58. | Application
for registration of
testing station. |
| 59. | Registration
and grading of
testing station. |
| 59A. | Right
of appeal to Minister. |
| 60. | Suspension or
cancellation of
registration of testing station. |
| 61. | Appointment of
inspectorate of
testing stations. |
| 62. | Roadworthy
certificate required in
respect of motor vehicle. |
| 63. | Application
for roadworthy
certificate. |
| 64. | Examination of
motor vehicle and
issue of roadworthy certificate and roadworthy certificate disc. |
| 65. | Prohibition
against licensing of
unroadworthy vehicle. |
| 66. | Prohibition
against holding of
more than one roadworthy certificate or
roadworthy certificate disc in respect of the same motor vehicle. |
| 67. | Roadworthy
certificate disc to be
affixed to motor vehicle. |
| 68. | Authority
conveyed by roadworthy
certificate subject to provisions of Act. |
| 69. | Effect of
alteration of motor
vehicle on roadworthy certificate and roadworthy certificate disc. |
| 70. | Right of
appeal to Administrator. |
| 71. | Voidness of
roadworthy certificate
or roadworthy certificate disc issued contrary to provisions of this
Chapter. |
| 72. | Suspension or
cancellation of
roadworthy certificate and roadworthy certificate disc by
Administrator. |
| 73. | Notice to
discontinue operation of
motor vehicle. |
| CHAPTER
V. OPERATOR FITNESS |
|
| 74. | Registration
of operator. |
| 75. | Issue of
operator card. |
| 76. | Operator card
to be displayed on
motor vehicle. |
| 77. | Proof of
certain facts. |
| 78. | Duties of
operator. |
| 79. | Power of
Administrator in respect
of motor vehicles, drivers and activities of operators. |
| 80. | Appeal to
Minister. |
| 81. | Act or
omission of manager, agent
or employee of operator. |
| CHAPTER
VI. ROAD TRAFFIC
SIGNS, GENERAL SPEED LIMIT AND PARKING METERS |
|
| 82. | Minister may
prescribe road
traffic signs. |
| 83. | Authority to
display road traffic
sign. |
| 84. | Failure to
obey road traffic sign. |
| 85. | Speed limit. |
| 86. | Certain
drivers may exceed general
speed limit. |
| 87. | Certain
classes of motor vehicles
to contain recording device to measure speed. |
| 88. | Power of local
authority to
collect parking fees. |
| CHAPTER
VII. RULES OF THE
ROAD |
|
| 89. | Vehicle to be
driven on left side
of roadway. |
| 90. | Driving on
divided public road. |
| 91. | Passing of
vehicle. |
| 92. | Crossing or
entering public road
or traffic lane. |
| 93. | Driving
signals. |
| 94. | Right of way
at certain road
junctions. |
| 95. | Procedure when
turning. |
| 96. | Towing of
vehicles. |
| 97. | Stopping of
vehicles. |
| 98. | Parking of vehicles. |
| 99. | Certain vehicles may be stopped and parked at any place where necessary. |
| 100. | Compulsory stops |
| 101. | General duties
of driver or
passenger of vehicle on public road. |
| 102. | Duties
relating to motor cycle,
motor tricycle or motor quadrucycle. |
| 103. | Vehicle
causing excessive noise. |
| 104. | Use of hooter.
|
| 105. | Riding on
pedal cycles. |
| 106. | Device running
on rails. |
| 107. | Animal on
public road. |
| 108. | Animal-drawn
vehicles. |
| 109. | Pedestrian’s
right of
way in pedestrian crossing. |
| 110. | Duties of
pedestrians. |
| 111. | Racing and
sport on public roads. |
| 112. | Convoys on
public road. |
| 113. | Hindering or
obstructing traffic
on public road. |
| 114. | Vehicle left
or abandoned on
public road. |
| 115. | Damage to
public road. |
| 116. | Trading on
public roads. |
| 117. | Special
provisions relating to
freeways. |
| CHAPTER
VIII. ACCIDENTS AND
ACCIDENT REPORTS |
|
| 118. | Duty of driver
in event of
accident. |
| 119. | Garage to keep
record of motor
vehicle involved in accident. |
| CHAPTER
IX. RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT DRIVING, INCONSIDERATE DRIVING, DRIVING WHILE
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR A DRUG HAVING A NARCOTIC
EFFECT, AND MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES |
|
| 120. | Reckless or
negligent driving. |
| 121. | Inconsiderate
driving. |
| 122. | Driving while
under the influence
of intoxicating liquor or drug having
narcotic effect, or with excessive amount of alcohol in blood. |
| 123. | Unauthorized
acts in relation to
vehicle. |
| 124. | Furnishing
false information. |
| 125. | Unlawful
acts in relation to registration number, registration mark or certain
documents. |
| CHAPTER
X. PRESUMPTIONS AND
LEGAL PROCEDURE |
|
| 126. | Presumption
in regard to public road, freeway and public road in urban area. |
| 127. | Presumption
in regard to mass ascertained by means of a mass-measuring bridge or
other mass-measuring instrument. |
| 128. | Presumption
in regard to gross vehicle mass of motor vehicle. |
| 129. | Proof
of gross vehicle mass of motor vehicle. |
| 130. | Presumption that owner drove or parked vehicle. |
| 131. | Presumption
in regard to
officers. |
| CHAPTER
XI. REGULATIONS AND
BY-LAWS |
|
| 132. | Power
of Minister to make
regulations. |
| 133. | Power
of local authority to
make by-laws. |
| 133A. | Local
authority may
determine fees. |
| CHAPTER
XII. REGISTERS AND
RECORDS |
|
| 134. | Registers
or records to be
kept. |
| 135. | Copy
of entry in register or
record to be evidence. |
| 136. | Cognizance
may be taken of
information contained in register or record. |
| CHAPTER
XIII. GENERAL
PROVISIONS |
|
| 137. | Exemption
from provisions
relating to parking. |
| 138. | Doubt
concerning use or
classification of motor vehicle. |
| 139. | Vehicle
and load may be
exempted from provisions of this Act. |
| 140. | Administrator may authorize certain refunds. |
| 141. | Registering authority subject to inspection by Auditor-General. |
| 142. | Inspections
for ensuring that provisions of this Act are being given effect to. |
| 143. | Variation
of prescribed form. |
| 144. | Duplicate
of document or token. |
| 145. | Issue
of document as proof of driver’s licence in special
circumstances. |
| 146. | Signature
upon documents. |
| 147. | Service
of notices. |
| 148. | State
bound. |
| 148A. | |
| 149. | Offences
and penalties. |
| 149A.. | |
| 150 | Apportionment
of fees. |
| 151. | Apportionment
of fines. |
| 151A. | Financing.
|
| 152. | Delegation.
|
| 153. | Repeal
of laws and savings. |
| 154. | Short title and commencement. |
| Sch. | SCHEDULE [No title] |
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