Cape Town - South African motorists have been warned to keep vehicles roadworthy or face the wrath of the law.
The warning from the Road Traffic Management Corporation comes after an analysis of traffic violation fines issued by the National Traffic Police revealed that vehicle defects, speeding and failure to wear seatbelts constitute the majority of traffic violations in South Africa.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said: “A high number of motorists in South Africa have a tendency to drive vehicles with smooth tyres, defective brakes and broken windscreens at high speed without wearing seatbelts.”
RTMC statistics show that out of 101 906 vehicles checked by National Traffic Police and other traffic officials between April and June 2015, 10 percent had defects which led to drivers being charged, arrested and for vehicles to be suspended.
“The analysis also confirmed that speeding and failure to wear seatbelts along with drivers ignoring traffic signals, road markings and driving unlicensed vehicles were the most common traffic law violations in SA.
“Smooth tyres, broken windscreens, faulty brakes and malfunctioning lamps were the major defects found. These defects pose a danger on the roads and contribute to crashes and fatalities,” Zwane said.
DRIVING WITHOUT DOCUMENTS
He said minibus-taxi drivers and drivers of private motor vehicles and light delivery vehicles were the majority of motorists charged for failing to wear seatbelts.
“The number of people who drive vehicles without proper documents is also concerning.
“More than 1400 motorists were charged for driving without a licence or public drivers permit.
“Most of them were driving private motor vehicles, minibus taxis and light delivery vehicles,” Zwane said.
He said traffic authorities would soon implement 24-hour shifts for traffic officers and mobile roadworthy vehicle testing stations would also be deployed in all provinces.
Meanwhile, the Automobile Association has also encouraged motorists to wear seatbelts.
AA spokesperson Layton Bear said: “Large reductions in traffic fatalities would be possible if all vehicle occupants wore their seatbelts.
“Global research has shown that wearing seatbelts reduces the chance of death or serious injury in crashes by up to 75 percent.
“Some people portray seatbelt laws as a restriction of their freedom of choice which affects only themselves, but this is not an accurate view,” Beard said.
Cape Times