Rules of the Road
All 73 sections from the official South African rules of the road manual. Tap any rule to read what it says and what it means for you.
Licence codes and requirements 7
- 5.1 Type of Learner's Licence Codes (1) Code 1 learner's licence a) The holder of a code 1 learner's licence is authorised to rid e motorcycle on a pu blic road howev
- 5.2 Driver of Motor Vehicle to Be Licensed No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a public road - (a) except under the authority and in accordance with the conditions of a
- 5.5 Holder of Licence to Drive Motor Vehicle Shall Give Notice of Change of Place of Residence When the holder of a licence to drive a motor vehicle which was issued in terms of the National Road Traffic Act has changed his o
- 5.6 Unlicensed Driver not to be Employed or Permitted to Drive Motor Vehicle No person who is the owner or operator, or is in charge, or control, of a motor vehicle shall employ or permit any other person to
- 5.7 Professional Driver to Have Permit No person shall drive a motor vehicle of a prescribed class on a public road except in accordance with the conditions of a profess
- 5.8 Period of Validity of Motor Vehicle Licence and Licence Disc A motor vehicle licence and licence disc shall be valid for a period of 12 months from the first day of the month in which such li
- 5.9 Offences The owner of a vehicle is also responsible for all offences committed with his/her vehicle on a public road, if he/she permitted t
Rules of the road 66
- 6.1 Lights 6.1.1 Motorcycles You may not operate any motorcycle, on a public road unless all lamps fitted to such motorcycles are undamaged,
- 6.2 Main Beam (bright) Every headlamp emitting a main-beam (bright), must be so adjusted and maintained that it shall be capable of adequately illuminati
- 6.3 Dipped Beam Every headlamp emitting a dipped-beam must be so adjusted and maintained to be capable of adequately illuminating an area ahead of
- 6.4 Parking Lamps A vehicle may not be driven on a public road with only the parking lamps lighted while such vehicle is in motion.
- 6.5 Rear Lamps You may not ride any motorcycle or a motor tricycle on a public road unless such cycle is fitted with a rear lamp emitting a red l
- 6.6 Stop Lamp You may not drive a light motor vehicle or motorcycle on a public road unless it is fitted with stop lamps at the rear. When in us
- 6.7 Number Plate Lamp You may not drive a motor vehicle on a public road, unless it is fitted with at least one number-plate lamp at the rear, illuminat
- 6.8 Number Plates A South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) approve number plate shall be affixed - (a) in such a manner that it is not easily deta
- 6.9 Fog Lamps Front fog lamps-Rear fog lamps-No vehicle may be driven on a public road while any fog lamp fitted to such vehicle is lit, except
- 6.10 Spot Lamp A motor vehicle may not be used on a public road if it is fitted with a spot lamp, which can be so adjusted as to enable a beam of
- 6.11 Driving View to be Unobstructed - (rear-view Mirrors) No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle
- 6.12 Steering Gear 6.12.1 Motorcycle You may not use a motorcycle on a public road-unless all parts of the steering gear are maintained in a conditio
- 6.13 Turning Radius A motor vehicle may not be used on a public road if the turning radius of such vehicle exceeds 13,1 metres.
- 6.14 Brakes 6.14.1 Motorcycle You may not ride a motorcycle on a public road, which is not equipped with two independent braking systems
- 6.15 Hooter No person shall use the hooter of a vehicle except when such use is necessary on the grounds of safety. You may not use a light mo
- 6.16 Emergency Warning Device (siren) The driver/rider of a motor vehicle shall give immediate right of way to all emergency vehicles sounding a siren and displaying em
- 6.17 Seatbelts Seatbelts are compulsory to wear when moving forward for children and adults but it only covers persons 3 years of age and older.
- 6.18 Protective Helmet for Motorcycle Riders You may not ride a motorcycle or be a passenger on a motorcycle, motor tricycle or a motor quadru cycle, or be a passenger in the
- 6.19 Windscreen The transparent windscreen of a light motor vehicle, must
- 6.20 Windscreen Wipers A light and heavy motor vehicle with a windscreen must be fitted with at least one windscreen wiper and must, when in operation, w
- 6.21 Exhaust Silencers / Exhaust Pipes A motor vehicle must be equipped with an efficient exhaust silencer, which must
- 6.22 Fuel Tank, Electrical Wiring and Battery A motor vehicle may not be used on a public road
- 6.23 Engine A light and heavy motor vehicle may not be used on a public road, unless the engine thereof is so covered as not to be a source of
- 6.24 Emergency Warning Signs (triangles) Any heavy motor vehicle (GVM exceeds 3500kg ), all goods vehicles, minibuses and busses, (excluding motor cars, ambulances and mot
- 6.25 Excessive Noise No person shall operate on a public road a vehicle in such a manner as to cause any excessive noise.
- 6.26 Speedometers A motor vehicle, which is designed for or capable of reaching a speed of 60 km/h or more, must be equipped with a speedometer, whi
- 6.27 Speed Limits A general speed limit is applicable on all roads and does not have to be displayed by a road traffic sign.
- 6.28 Speed Limit in Respect of Passenger Vehicles Conveying Persons for Reward A speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour shall apply in respect of
- 6.29 Speed Limit for a Particular Class of Vehicles A speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour shall apply in respect to
- 6.30 Overall Length of Vehicles Legislation provides for restrictions on the overall length of certain types of vehicles. The restricted lengths are as follows
- 6.31 Overall Height of Vehicle The following motor vehicles may not be used on a public road together with any load thereon, if the overall height
- 6.32 Overall Width of Vehicles The following motor vehicles may not be used on a public road
- 6.33 Conveyance of Goods Goods may not be loaded onto a vehicle in such a manner that it may
- 6.34 Circumstances under which Persons May be Carried on Goods Vehicle If persons are carried on a goods vehicle, that portion of the vehicle in which the persons are being conveyed must be enclosed to
- 6.35 Projections /overhang A motorcycle may not be used on a public road if any goods carried thereon, or on any sidecar project more
- 6.36 Warning Flags/reflectors Where any load projects more than 150 millimetres to the side, or more than 300 millimetres to the rear, it must be marked by mean
- 6.37 Driving on Divided Public Road Whenever any public road has been divided into two or more roadways, no person shall drive/ride a vehicle upon such public road ex
- 6.38 Driving on Left Side of Roadway Any person driving a vehicle on a public road shall drive on the left side of the roadway and, where the roadway is wide enough, i
- 6.39 Prohibition on Driving on Shoulder of Road, except in Certain Circumstances No person shall drive a light motor vehicle on the shoulder of a public road, however, during the period between sunrise and sunse
- 6.40 Lane Changing When driving a motor vehicle on a public road which is divided into traffic lanes by means of road markings, the driver/rider shal
- 6.41 Driving Signals The driver/rider of a vehicle who intends to stop, or to turn such vehicle to the left or to the right, shall in good time, give a
- 6.42 Direction Indicators You may not drive your motor vehicle on a public road, unless it is equipped on both sides with flasher type direction indicators.
- 6.43 Retro-reflectors 6.43.1 Motorcycles You may not ride your motorcycle, motorcycle with a sidecar or motor tricycle, on a public road unless there is
- 6.44 Yellow Reflective Material As from 1 January 2001, yellow reflective material (as prescribed), shall be fitted to the sides and rear of all goods vehicles of
- 6.45 Overtaking / Passing The driver/rider of a vehicle intending to pass any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction on a public road shall pass to
- 6.46 Intersections The driver/rider of a vehicle on a public road shall, when he or she intends entering any portion of a public road which constitut
- 6.47 Parking No person shall park a vehicle on the roadway of a public road
- 6.48 Stopping No person shall stop a vehicle on the roadway of a public road
- 6.49 General Duties of Driver/rider No person driving a vehicle on a public road shall
- 6.50 Duties Relating to Motorcycles When riding any motorcycle on a public road
- 6.51 Manner in which Side Car to be Attached to Motorcycle No person shall use a motorcycle with sidecar on a public road, unless such sidecar is attached to t he left side of the motorcycl
- 6.52 Cell Phones No person shall drive/ride a vehicle on a public road while holding a cellular or mobile telephone or any other communication devi
- 6.53 Pedestrians Right of Way The driver/rider of a vehicle must yield right of way, slow down or stop, if necessary in order to yield right of way to a pedestr
- 6.54 Vehicle Left / Abandoned Any vehicle left for a continuous period of more than
- 6.55 Damage to Public Roads You may not
- 6.56 Freeways The following vehicles may not be used on a freeway
- 6.57 Towing No person shall use any motorcycle to tow another vehicle. No person shall be allowed to tow another vehicle on a public road
- 6.58 Restriction on Combination of Motor Vehicles A combination of motor vehicles is restricted to a drawing vehicle, and
- 6.59 Crossing / Entering Public Road The driver/rider of a vehicle shall not cross a public road unless the road is clear of moving traffic for a sufficient distance t
- 6.60 Compulsory Stops The driver/rider of a vehicle on a public road shall stop such vehicle
- 6.61 Tyres 6.61.1 Light Motor Vehicle A light motor vehicle must be fitted with pneumatic tyres, which display throughout, across the breadth
- 6.62 Accidents Any driver/rider of a motor vehicle involved in an accident or who contributes to any accident must
- 6.63 Inconsiderate Driving No person shall drive a vehicle on a public road without reasonable consideration for any other person using the road.
- 6.64 Reckless or Negligent Driving No person shall drive a vehicle on a public road
- 6.65 Driving while under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a public road while the concentration of alcohol in a person's body is
- 6.66 Fuel Tank, Electrical Wiring and Battery A heavy motor vehicle may not be used on a public road
