Loi nationale sur la circulation routière, loi 93 de 1996 (NRTA) Copy

The National Road Traffic Act, Act 93 of 1996 (NRTA)

Chapter 4 of the NRTA outlines the fitness of drivers which includes learner and driver licence holders. A person is disqualified from obtaining or holding a learner’s or driving licence if he or she is suffering from defective vision ascertained in accordance with a prescribed standard. Failure to disclose the disqualification is prohibited and must be done within a period of 21 days after the disqualification by submitting the licence or, in the case where it is contained in an identity document, that document to the chief executive officer. Regulation 102 stipulates the vision standard required for drivers and learner drivers.


These are listed below:

  1. __ A person shall be disqualified from obtaining or holding a learner’s or driving licence unless:

a. __ In the case of an application for a learner’s or driving licence relating to the code A1, A, B or EB, such person has

I. __ According to the Snellen rating a minimum visual acuity, with or without refractive correction, of 6/12 (20/40) for each eye, or where the visual acuity of one eye is less than 6/12 (20/40) or where one eye of the person concerned is blind, a minimum visual acuity for the other eye of 6/9 (20/30); and

II. __ A minimum visual field of 70 degrees temporal, with or without refractive correction, in respect of each eye, or where the minimum visual field in respect of one eye is less than 70 degrees temporal, or where one eye is blind, a minimum total horizontal visual field of at least 115 degrees with or without refractive correction; orb.

b. __ In the case of an application for a learner’s or driving licence relating to the code C1 C, EC1 or EC, such person has

I. __ According to the Snellen rating a minimum visual acuity, with or without refractive correction, of 6/9 (20/30) for each eye; and
II. __ A minimum visual field of 70 degrees temporal in respect of each eye, with or without refractive correction.

2. __ A person who is disqualified in terms of sub-regulation (1) may at such person’s expense approach a registered optometrist or ophthalmologist to test such person’s eyes in terms of the standards referred to in sub-regulation (1), and the result of such test shall, if it duly reflects the visual acuity of such person according to the Snellen rating, and his or her field of vision expressed in degrees, as contemplated in sub-regulation (1), be accepted by the driving licence testing centre.

a. If the result contemplated in paragraph (a) indicates that the person concerned is disqualified as contemplated in sub-regulation (1), the driving licence testing centre shall not issue such person with a learner’s or driving licence with a code to which the application of that person relates,

 

Code class of motor vehiclesaa

A1

A motorcycle without a sidecar which has an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres, or which is propelled by electrical power, but does not include:

i. aa Any vehicle propelled by electrical power derived from storage batteries and which is pedestrian controlled
ii. aa Any vehicle with a tare not exceeding 230 kilograms and specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of any person suffering from some physical defect or disability or a person of old age and used solely by such person. Includes authorisation to drive
i. aa (aa) A motorcycle with a side-car
ii. aa(bb) A motor tricycle
iii.aa(cc) A motor quadricycle, which has an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres.
iv.aaA vehicle having pedals and an engine or an electric motor as an integral part thereof or attached thereto and which is designed or adapted to be propelled by means of such pedals, engine, or motor, or both such pedals and engine or motor.

A

A motorcycle without a side-car which has an engine with a cylinder capacity exceeding 125 cubic centimetres. Includes authorisation to drive:

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

A motorcycle with a side-car
A motor tricycle
A motor quadricycle; and
Any other motor vehicle for which a code A1 driving licence is required

B

A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadricycle, tractor and a motor vehicle which is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, being

i. aa A motor vehicle the tare of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms; a minibus, a bus or a goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms, with or without a trailer, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms but does not include an articulated motor vehicle. Includes authorisation to drive

ii. aa A tractor, and

iii. aa A motor vehicle that is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, with or without a trailer.

C1

A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadricycle, tractor and a motor vehicle which is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, being

i. aa A motor vehicle, the tare of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms but does not exceed 16 000 kilograms; or
ii. ia A minibus, a bus or a goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms but does not exceed 16 000 kilograms, with or without a trailer, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms but does not include an articulated motor vehicle. Includes authorisation to drive any motor vehicle for which a code B driving licence is required.

C

A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadricycle, tractor and a motor vehicle which is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, being a bus or a goods vehicle. The gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 16 000 kilograms, with or without a trailer the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms but does not include an articulated motor vehicle. Includes authorisation to drive any motor vehicle for which a code B or C1 driving licence is required.

EB

A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadricycle, tractor and a motor vehicle which is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, being

i. aa An articulated motor vehicle, of which the gross combination mass of the truck-tractor does not exceed 3 500 kilograms.
ii. aa A combination of (aa) a motor vehicle the tare of which does not exceed 3 500 kg; or (bb) a minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms, with a trailer the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms. Includes authorisation to drive any motor vehicle for which a code B driving licence is required.

EC1

A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadricycle, tractor and a motor vehicle which is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, being

i. aa An articulated motor vehicle, of which the gross combination mass of the truck-tractor exceeds 3 500 kilograms but does not exceed 18 000 kilograms
ii. aa A combination of
(aa) A motor vehicle the tare of which exceeds 3 500 kg but does not exceed 16 000 kg; or
(bb) a minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms but does not exceed 16 000 kilograms, with a trailer the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms. Includes authorisation to drive any motor vehicle for which a code B, C1 or EB driving licence is required.

EC

A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor quadricycle, tractor and a motor vehicle which is a type of mobile agricultural or industrial equipment or machinery not designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, being.

i. aa An articulated motor vehicle of which the gross combination mass of the truck-tractor exceeds 16 000 kilograms.
ii. aaA combination of a bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 16 000 kilograms, with a trailer the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms. Includes authorisation to drive any motor vehicle for which a code B, C1, C, EB or EC1 driving licence is required.


Table 4.1 Summary of Vehicle Code and Vision Requirements – Regulation 102

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Professional Driver Permits are required by drivers of the following (NRTA Section 115):

A Professional Driving Permit (PrDP/PDP) is required in South Africa when driving public transport, heavy-duty vehicles, taxis, buses, and breakdown vehicles. A professional driving permit (PrDP) is required when driving on a public road in South Africa transporting goods, dangerous goods, or passengers for an income. Note there is currently no law stating that a person with a physical disability is not allowed to have a PrDP, as long as the driver is able to demonstrate to an examiner that they have adequate control of the vehicle at all times and meet the medical requirements to have a PrDP the permit will be issued. The medical criteria for a PrDP are significantly stricter than a normal private licence. There are some exceptions, a PrDP is not required when driving a hearse or a tractor.

A PrDP is required in the following instances:

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A PrDP is NOT required by drivers of the following: 

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Categories of professional driving permit (NRTA Section 116) are divided into the following categories:

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