The Department on Transport is forging ahead with plans to enforce the installation of speed governors, which will restrict the speed of vehicles to the speed limits, in all new minibuses and buses.

“With effect from 1 December 2016 in line with the amendments new minibuses, midibuses, buses and goods vehicle first registered after 1 December 2016 will be required to be fitted with a speed governor, restricting the speed of such a motor vehicle to the speed limits as set out in the National Road Traffic Act,” said the department in a statement on Thursday.

What this implies, is that a device that would be installed in the motor vehicle electronics system that will ensure that it does not exceed the prescribed speed limit for such motor vehicle.

It is envisaged that all new vehicles will be manufactured and sold to the public already fitted with speed governors after 1 December 2016.

“Speed governors will be utilised to restrict the speed of minibuses, midibuses, buses or goods vehicles the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) (correction) of which exceeds 3 500kg.”

This as the department has published amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations 2000 under the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996).

The amendments to the Regulations have been published in the Government Gazette dated 31 August 2014 and can be obtained from the government printers.

Certain amendments to the Regulations are applicable with effect from the date of publication as determined by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, while others will be applicable on a date determined by the Minister. Some Regulations will be effective at dates in the future.

It will be required that when manufacturers of motor vehicles submit their models to be examined by the South African Bureau of Standards for complies with the South African standards, they would already have been fitted with the speed governors. This means that there would not be retrofitting of the vehicles.

“This regulation is intended at for new vehicles manufactured after 1 December 2016, therefore the public will currently not be expected to fit the governors to those motor vehicles that were already introduced into the system. Dealerships are expected to advice buyer of motor vehicles to fit any speed governors, until such time that the department communicates with the public on whether already registered and licensed motor vehicles must be fitted with governors.”

The intention of the regulations is to focus on new vehicles going forward, retro fitting of old vehicles will only be considered at a later stage if the need arises.

“There is also a requirement that will require that children that are being transported in a motor vehicle to be buckled up with an appropriate child restraints. This requirement applies to children that cannot fit on the current seat belts that are fitted in motor vehicles. The requirement is only going to be applicable after six months from the date of publication of this regulation,” the department said.

Other amendments relate to road safety interventions that are geared at ensuring that we improve safety on public roads. 

The department has attempted to ensure that in relation to those requirements that have financial implications, it gives the general public time to comply with the requirements