Mixed feelings on new road rules
NEW rules of the road are on the way, and it’s about time too. South Africa just cannot continue the way it is, carrying on with road carnage and deaths as high as they are now. There is far too much laxity in dealing with the problem and something had to be done.
Essence of the new laws, as published in a Government Gazette in 2015, and which are now expected to be phased in from the beginning of May, include lower speed limits, restricting the number of people who can be transported on a bakkie’s open load body, no children to be transported on a bakkie’s load body, drivers to be reevaluated when renewing licences and heavy vehicles to be banned from public roads during peak travelling times.
From an ordinary driver’s perspective I would rate the lowering of speeds as probably the most important restriction likely to help reduce road fatalities. On the other hand, again for me personally, would be the irritation of having to crawl through towns and cities at 40km/h, instead of the current 60km/h, 40 being the new speed limit for urban areas.
Yes, 40km/h will be the fastest you and I will be allowed to do in and around town. I tried it one day recently in my own car and can say with conviction that it was irritating going on around you.
Interestingly, many countries of the world already have 40km/h as their maximum speed limit in urban areas, and they seem to be managing, so perhaps it’s going to be a steep learning curve we’re all going to have to go through before we master the attitude we’ll need to comply with new laws.
Thankfully, the speed limit on wide, quality national roads with generous verges and so on, where it is considered safe to do so, will remain at 120, but on freeways through residential areas will be reduced to 100km/h which to me sounds as if lower road death figures are to be the aim of all this. If so, lower speed through and around built up areas should help curb current mayhem.
The question, however, is: Will current road traffic control be capable of handling all of this to enforce these restrictions? Okay, all together now, what do you think?
I can hear you all bellowing at the top of your voice NOT A BLOODY CHANCE!
And I agree. There will be those who try to do what they are being asked to do, but I can see the vast majority cocking a snook at the law and doing as they please.
Only solution to that will probably be bigger fines, as I cannot see hordes of extra traffic police being delegated to enforce the new laws enthusiastically. Can you?
Other changes on the list, including being re-evaluated when renewing your driver’s licence, sound good, but will it be practical in present circumstances?
There are constant moans from the public about queueing up for long periods to pay for and collect licences, so how much more time will a test take? I’m all for drivers having to study road signs and that sort of thing, to pass the test, but will it work. And there’s always the subject of money changing hands to facilitate the test. Can that be stopped?
As for reducing workmen and other passengers sitting on the back of a bakkie being restricted to five, and altogether banning children being there, that also sounds sensible.
Finally, a law to restrict the movement of goods vehicles over nine tons from using public roads during peak traffic times also sounds a good plan to reduce road volumes.
There are enough commuter cars, taxis and other light vehicles on roads at peak times, so a bit of relief in that direction seems a good thing. I’d like to see more enthusiasm from the government, however, in restoring the railways. That might take some of the heavy trucks off roads.
Most of the information above is taken from a Government Gazette of 2015. Comment is mine. —