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National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)

Regulations

National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000

Chapter VI : Fitness of Vehicles

Part II : Equipment on or in respect of vehicles

200. Steering gear

 

(1) No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle—
(a) unless all parts of the steering gear are maintained in a condition which enables the vehicle to be steered safely and efficiently;
(b) unless, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (a), all parts of the steering mechanism are so adjusted that, unless otherwise designed by the manufacturer, the amount of movement which the steering wheel makes before the steering gear becomes effective in changing the direction of the steerable wheels from a position where such wheels are parallel to the longitudinal centre-line of the vehicle to the right or left, is no more than 12,5 percent of the outside circumference of the steering wheel (that is to say, 45 degrees); and
(c) which is fitted with an anti-theft device which enables the steering wheel to be disengaged or disconnected from the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

(2)        

(a) Subject to paragraphs (b), (c) and (d), no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle the steering wheel of which is on the left hand side.
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply in respect of a motor vehicle which was registered or licenced in the Republic into any persons name before 23 July 2004;

[Regulation 200(2)(b) substituted by regulation 14(a) of Notice No. R. 589 of 2009]

(c) paragraph (a) does not apply in respect of:
(i) a vehicle built or imported by a registered builder or importer for the purpose of export, testing, assessment or development, if such vehicle is operated on a public road under an exemption in terms of section 81 of the Act;
(ii) a vehicle manufactured by a registered manufacturer for the purpose of export;
(iii) a vehicle manufactured by a registered manufacturer for the purpose of testing, assessment or development; or
(iv) a vehicle which is a specialised fire fighting vehicle or heavy duty crane with a GVM over 24 000 kg and having 3 or more axles.

[Regulation 200(2)(c) substituted by regulation 14(c) of Notice No. R. 589 of 2009]

(d) the provisions of paragraph (a) shall not apply in respect of a motor vehicle referred to in regulation 4(1), 4(2), 21(1)(e), 21(1)(f), 21(1)(g) and 21(1)(h).

[Regulation 200(d) substituted by regulation 8 of Notice No. R. 890 of 2013 as corrected by Notice No. R. 946 of 2013]

(e) the owner of a motor vehicle referred to in subregulation (2)(b) may dispose of or transfer ownership of such motor vehicle and such motor vehicle shall be registered in the name of a new owner.

[Regulation 200(2)(e) inserted by regulation 14(b) of Notice No. R. 589 of 2009]

 

(3)        No person shall operate on a public road a motor cycle—

(a) unless the handlebars thereof are symmetrically placed in relation to the longitudinal centre-line of the cycle;
(b) unless the distance between the outside edges of the handlebars is at least 600 millimetres in respect of a motor cycle with an engine with a cylinder capacity of 200 cubic centimetres or more and at least 500 millimetres in respect of all other motor cycles; or
(c) of which the outer ends of the handgrips on the handlebars are—
(i) higher than 500 millimetres above the seat height; or
(ii) lower than the seat height,

and more than 800 millimetres apart.