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

204. Driving view to be unobstructed

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(1) No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle—
(a)which is not so constructed and maintained as to afford the driver thereof a full and clear view of the roadway ahead and to his or her right and left when the vehicle is in use;
(b) which is not fitted with a rearview mirror or mirrors enabling the driver of such vehicle, when he or she is in the driving position, to see in clear weather a clear reflection of traffic to the rear: Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in respect of a tractor;
(c) which is a motor car, minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1987, unless it is fitted with an exterior rearview mirror on the driving side and an interior rearview mirror: Provided that where the interior rearview mirror does not enable the driver, when he or she is in the driving position, to see in clear weather, a clear reflection of traffic to the rear, an additional exterior rearview mirror shall be fitted on the side opposite to the driving seat and in such a case it shall not be necessary to fit an interior rearview mirror;
(d)which is a minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1987, unless it is fitted with an exterior rearview mirror on the driving side and an exterior rearview mirror on the side opposite to the driving seat; or
(e)which is a motor cycle, a motor tricycle or motor quadrucycle unless it is fitted with a rearview mirror on the right side of the handlebars thereof, and such vehicle shall also be fitted with a rearview mirror on the left side of its handlebars.

 

(2) Every rearview mirror of a motor vehicle—
(a) which—
(i)is a motor car, minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1976; or
(ii)is a minibus, bus or a goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time during the period 1 January 1976 to 31 December 1986,

shall be either flat or spherically convex and have an average radius of curvature of not less than one comma two metres; or

(b) contemplated in subregulation (1)(d) shall be either flat or spherically convex and have an average radius or curvature of not less than one comma eight metres.