File picture: Karen Sandison Independent Newspapers
THE National Road Traffic Amendment Bill has been signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Presidency announced in a statement on Thursday.
The bill aims to enhance road safety management, focusing on safer roads, vehicles, and users.
It will also see strict rules enforced on training centres and driving licence testing centres, examiners for driving licences or vehicles, and traffic officers.
The AA and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) have welcomed the bill. The Presidency said that the bill gives effect to the National Road Safety Strategy, which has five pillars: road safety management; safer roads and mobility; safer vehicles; safer road users; and post-crash response.
“The bill amends the National Road Traffic Act of 1996 in a number of ways, including by providing, among other measures, for the suspension and cancellation of the registration … of an examiner for driving licences or an examiner of vehicles.”
The Presidency said the bill also provides for the registration and grading of training centres and driving licence testing centres.
“The law introduces new offences related to learners licences and provides for registration and grading of driving schools and their instructors.”
The Presidency said the law disqualifies vehicle examiners who have or acquire a direct or indirect financial interest in the manufacturing, selling, rebuilding, repairing, or modifying of motor vehicles.
“Examiners will also be disqualified if they have or have acquired such financial interest through their spouse or partner. Similarly, a traffic officer, reserve traffic warden, traffic warden, or NaTIS (National Traffic Information System) officials are now disqualified if they have or acquired through their spouse or partner, a direct or indirect financial interest in a road transport services business.”
The Presidency added that examiners for driving licences or vehicles, traffic officers, and licence inspectors may be suspended or have their registration cancelled if they have been convicted of various offences. Eleanor Mavimbela, spokesperson for the AA, said that this was a positive step towards reducing road fatalities in South Africa.
“However, we can only evaluate the effectiveness of any new legislation by examining how well it is implemented. The monitoring and enforcement will be crucial.”
THE MERCURY
Related Topics: