Not so frequently asked questions on car-related topics
Ever wondered about something, but you never actually asked so you still don’t know the answer? We took some questions that aren’t that ”frequent” and answered them with the help of the Automobile Association of South Africa.
1. What are you allowed to do while driving?
Definitely not ”texting” or talking on your phone hands-on! Other than that, a motorist should not do anything that could be interpreted as not being in complete control of the vehicle. With regard to other activities like eating, drinking, changing the radio or applying make-up; there’s no specific indication in the National Road Traffic Act that expressly prohibits a driver from performing these actions. However, according to Regulation 308, a driver may not occupy a position in a vehicle where he or she doesn’t have complete control of the vehicle. For example, a woman applying her make-up in the traffic means she does not have her hands on the steering neither does she have an unobstructed view of the road.
2. What happens if I crash a car during a test drive?
A dealer would have public liability insurance to cover them for any damage that might occur during a test drive. Alternatively the dealer may request a prospective customer to sign an acknowledgment of consent to liability, ie. the customer accepts responsibility should the vehicle be damaged whilst the customer is test driving. If something is damaged, the customer will be held responsible.
3. What’s the deal with sidewalks and pedestrians/cars?
The National Road Traffic Act places a number of obligations on both the motorist and the pedestrian when using a public road. The Act states that a pavement is a portion of a boundary intended for the exclusive use of pedestrians, and therefore forbids motorists from parking on the pavement of any public road. The only time motorists can legally park on the pavement is when there is a road traffic sign allowing them to do so. Further, this is what the law states when it comes to pedestrians and sidewalks:
-Whenever a pavement or path touches on the street of a public road, a pedestrian shall not walk on such a road except for the purpose of crossing from one side to the other.
-A pedestrian on a public road that has no pavement bordering on the road, shall walk as near as possible to the edge of the road on his or her right-hand side so as to face oncoming traffic.
-No pedestrian shall cross a public road without assuring themselves first that the road is suitably free from oncoming traffic, so that they can safely cross that road.
-When crossing a public road using a pedestrian crossing, the pedestrian shall not linger on the road but must proceed quickly and with caution.
-No pedestrian on a public road shall conduct themselves in such a manner that may endanger their well-being or that of other motorists.
-A pedestrian may cross a public road only at a pedestrian crossing, intersection or at a distance further than 50 metres from such pedestrian crossing or intersection.
4. Is it legal for official traffic officers to confiscate a licence?
In terms of the National Road Act, a traffic officer may ask to see your driver’s licence and an officer also has the authority to confiscate the document if the officer has reason to believe the license may have some evidentiary proof that has been a violation of the National Road Traffic Act.