Motoring Staff
2010-07-20
It is a little known fact that warning triangles are required in all motor cars registered after 1 July 2006, regardless of their model or size.
And apparently some motor dealers (new and used), and most members of the public are equally unaware of this.
An investigation was undertaken and TMPD head of prosecutions, Basil Nkwashu revealed that this regulation was in force and any fines issued by his officers would stand if the car had been registered after 1 July 2006.
Subsequently, Revo Spies of the EMPD who also represents all Metro Chiefs confirmed that every vehicle manufacturer in the country is aware of and complying with this provision as part of their homologation of all models with SABS.
But after conducting a survey of some new and used car dealers, it was found that only some were aware of this requirement, having been in force since 2006 and in cases where they were aware of it. Some new car salesmen said that the warning triangle was handed to the purchaser or put in the boots of the cars at the time of handover of the vehicle. Second hand dealers just shrugged when asked where the warning triangle was.
This means that there will probably be a high proportion of car owners and drivers who have been driving their vehicles in contravention of the National Road Traffic Regulations for up to three years now and don’t realize it.
But says Howard Dembovsky of JPSA, this is clearly not stopping traffic officers from enforcing this regulation and one can only imagine the amount of money that can be made by municipalities who blitz this particular infringement.
Obviously if a person bought a second hand car from a private person, the possibility will exist that this warning triangle may have been removed but all motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers must be aware of this requirement since it constitutes the same kind of requirement that exists with seat belts, which are defined as standard safety equipment in a car. Just as a second hand car dealer should not sell someone a pre-owned car that has no seatbelts, they should be equally liable to provide a warning triangle as is required by law.