In an effort to reduce road deaths, the Department of Transport is proposing new legislation that includes slower speed limits and an end to carrying children in an open bakkie.
Among the proposals is to compel motorists to take a practical test when renewing a driving licence.
The draft regulations have already been published in the Government Gazette and propose these changes to legislation:
• Drivers to be re-evaluated when renewing a licence
• No more than five people to be carried in a bakkie load bed
• Children not to be transported in a bakkie load bed
• Speed limits to be reduced from 60 to 40km/h in urban areas, from 100 to 80km/h in rural areas and from 120 to 100km/h on freeways running through a residential area
• Goods vehicles above 9000kg GVM to be banned from public roads during peak traveling times.
It has been reported that the department spokesman Ishmael Mnisi said that the proposed legislation would have to be presented to his party’s cabinet, be discussed in Parliament and include public input.
He said the department hoped to implement the proposed regulations by the end of 2015.
