South African traffic laws you probably break regularly
With South African traffic laws changing so often, it’s difficult to know what you are allowed to do. Here are laws people break regularly.
According to South African traffic laws, can a motorist driving without a valid licence be fined R1 000 on the spot? How about your phone being confiscated immediately if you’re seen using it while driving? These are just some of the rumours doing the rounds about South African traffic laws.
STRICT SOUTH AFRICAN TRAFFIC LAWS
The thing is, there’s plenty of confusion surrounding practical implementation of AARTO. Due to delays by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and Department of Transport (DOT), where do we stand? Furthermore, this indecision has led some motorists to believe the roads are effectively lawless until the driver demerit system comes into being.
That is not the case, says Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga. Under AARTO regulations the only time a motorist can be arrested on the spot is for the following:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Operating a vehicle recklessly.
- Exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h or more.
TRAFFIC LAWS YOU BREAK REGULARLY
Moreover, these are the South African traffic laws motorist (and pedestrians) break all the time. However, they probably don’t even know about them due to the poor level of policing. We’ve included the fines you’ll probably never pay, too:
| Violation | Fine | Driver demerit points |
| No warning triangle in vehicle, or not displayed correctly | R500 | 1 |
| Reversing too fast, far or dangerously | R1 000 | 3 |
| Following another vehicle too closely | R1 000 | 3 |
| An occupant restricting the driver’s full control of a vehicle | R1 000 | 3 |
| Someone interfering with the steering/operation of vehicle | R1 000 | 3 |
| Leaving a vehicle’s engine running unattended/unbraked | R250 | 0 |
| Pulling away before it is safe to do so | R500 | 1 |
| Part of driver’s body protruding from a moving vehicle | R250 | 0 |
| Engine emitting excessive smoke | R250 | 0 |
*it’s unclear when the AARTO Act will come into full operation countrywide in South Africa.
OBSCURE SOUTH AFRICAN TRAFFIC FINES
| Violation | Fine | Driver demerit points |
| Spilling oil, petrol or rubbish on the road | R250 | 0 |
| Running your engine while filling up with fuel | R250 | 0 |
| Jumping from or onto a moving vehicle | R100 | 0 |
| Driving on the sidewalk | R500 | 1 |
| Excessive noise emitting from your vehicle | R250 | 0 |
| Excessive use of your hooter | R250 | 0 |
| Failing to yield to pedestrian at crossing | R500 | 1 |
| Pedestrian moving in front of vehicle suddenly | R100 | 0 |
| Overtaking stationary vehicle at a pedestrian crossing | R500 | 1 |
| Driving in convoy over the weekend | R500 | 1 |
| Wilful obstruction of traffic flow | R750 | 2 |
| Abandoning your vehicle | R500 | 1 |
*Note that the driver demerit system is not operational yet in South Africa.