The car

The car: Don't drive, enter, climb on or tamper with a vehicle without the consent of the person lawfully in charge of the vehicle.

By K53 Study Guide · Updated

Unauthorised use of vehicle

  • Don't drive, enter, climb on or tamper with a vehicle without the consent of the person lawfully in charge of the vehicle.
  • Don't alter the chassis or engine number of a vehicle without consulting the registering authority.

Lights

You may not drive on a public road (even in the daytime) if any of your vehicle's lights aren't working or properly secured. Unless otherwise stated, all lights have to be able to be seen 150m away.

Seat belts

  • You may not use a vehicle on a public road unless all the seatbelts work.
  • You may only remove seatbelts from the car for repair or replacement, and you can't use the car on a public road until the repair or replacement is complete.
  • All seatbelts fitted in the car must be worn (front and back).
  • If there is a seat with a seatbelt available, a passenger has to sit in it rather than sitting in a seat with no seatbelt.
  • If a child restraint is available children must use that, otherwise they must use a seatbelt if available.
  • If there is no seatbelt in the front passenger seat, anyone up to 14 years old (or shorter than 1.5m) must sit at the back.
  • You don't have to wear a seatbelt if you're reversing.

Tyres

  • The tyre tread must be deeper than 1mm all over.
  • You must see the pattern of the tread all over the tyre.
  • There can be no:
    • cuts on the side walls which are more than 10% of the tyre width, or longer than 25mm, whichever is greater
    • lumps or bulges anywhere on the tyre
    • inner cords, canvas or steel belts showing.

Other equipment

The steering wheel can't have excessive free play. This means that if the wheels are straight you musn't be able to turn the wheel more than 45 degrees before it starts turning the wheels to the left or right.

Emergency triangles

  • There must be a double edged red and white reflective triangle in all:
    • Bakkies
    • Trailers
    • Caravans
    • Vans
    • Trucks
    • Minibuses
    • Buses
  • Use it when your vehicle is stationary on the roadway (unless in a designated area or stopped because of other traffic and with the driver still in it).
  • Display it at least 45 m from your car in the direction from which traffic will approach, with the reflective side facing them.

Transporting goods

Any goods on a vehicle must be securely fastened. The load can't touch the road anywhere (only a static chain can touch the road). The load can't obscure the driver's view anywhere, including rear-view mirrors.

Number of passengers

  • The number of people that can be carried in a vehicle depends on seat space.
  • Each person must have at least 380mm of seat space.
  • Children under 3 don't count.
  • Children 3-6 can go on laps.