Compulsory reflective triangles.

daveza

daveza

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While driving around Jo'burg I heard a report about a new law making it compulsory for any vehicles 2006 and newer to carry a reflective triangle.

The only exemptions are for bikes, quads and ambulances - the fine for not having one will be R500.00 apparently.

Has anyone else heard of this - and why would it only be compulsory for newer vehicles when surely it is the older ones that are more likely to break down ?
 
That's the bit I didn't understand.

Found this -

http://www.arrivealive.co.za/News.aspx?s=1&i=2093

A reflective emergency warning triangle sign for motorists is now a compulsory article in cars, the Johannesburg metro police said on Friday.

JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said all vehicles registered after July 1 2007, must carry at least one emergency warning triangle sign in terms of Regulation 214 (2) (a) of the National Road Traffic Act.

Motorists without a triangle in their car could be fined R500, he said.

The only vehicles excluded from this regulation were ambulances, cars registered before July 1 2006, motorcycles, motor tricycles and motor quadricycles.

Minnaar said goods vehicles, minibuses and buses first registered before July 1 2007, will not be allowed on a public road without at least one emergency triangle sign.
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Why would old cars be excluded? Sounds fishy...
 
Most motor parts outlets like Midas, Autozone and the AA for certain.

The problem with these triangles is that they are normally placed within a few meters of the broken down vehicle, leaving very little reaction time. Idiots not thinking further than their noses.
 
Stokstert said:
Most motor parts outlets like Midas, Autozone and the AA for certain.

The problem with these triangles is that they are normally placed within a few meters of the broken down vehicle, leaving very little reaction time. Idiots not thinking further than their noses.
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The triangles should come with instructions! :)
 
cbrunsdonza said:
There is a law from the 90's that make it compulsory for most vehicles. I think its anyway a good idea
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+1 ... but it's not public knowledge ... so it'll be another cash cow for the road blocks :(
 
JK8 said:
Why would old cars be excluded? Sounds fishy...
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Because manufacturers have been putting those triangles in cars since about 2000. You buy a new car today, it will have a triangle. This is just a law to make it 'official'. They're excluding old cars since it will force everyone to go and buy a triangle, so, in amazement, the government has actually thought about the people for once!!!!

P.S. if that's the full act, nowhere in there does it say you have to deploy it.
 
IMHO many of these laws, although the intention is good, are only allowed in under conditions that it will not allow the party in control of the country to "look bad" or be perceived as "robbing the poor". You have to remember that there are a whole lot of votes that need to be retained in the poorer parts of the country, and this is often where you find the older and more dangerous vehicles.

It's all about the money and power in the end, and not necessarily about the greater good or safety of the Country.
 
daveza said:
But surely it will be the older vehicles which would need to use it more than the newer ones ?
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Well, for one, I have a 16 year old car, and have only been on the side of the road with it once (dead electronic component, love the sea air). But what difference does the triangle make? It's not going to stop your car from breaking down just because you have one, it will just make sure you hear the blind person driving over the triangle before they run you over ;) In all seriousness, even if I did have one of those triangles, I wouldn't use it unless my car is overlapping a part of the road lane and it's just over a blind bend/corner. (Very rare circumstances).
 
UnUnOctium said:
In all seriousness, even if I did have one of those triangles, I wouldn't use it unless my car is overlapping a part of the road lane and it's just over a blind bend/corner. (Very rare circumstances).
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I think that is the intended purpose of it. Many crashes occur because people drive too fast into a blind corner, and then met with an obstacle do not have sufficient time to respond. It really is just an early warning device for those "I did not see it" situations.
 
Just got a ticket two weeks ago, but my car was registered before 2006. Will that mean i can contest the ticket?.
 
mazoxx said:
Just got a ticket two weeks ago, but my car was registered before 2006. Will that mean i can contest the ticket?.
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Well I have not read the actual law, but if what is quoted in this thread you might well be able to. Unless it is a commercial vehicle, i.e. delivery vehicle, taxi, etc. you will have to have had one regardless.
 
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