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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

198. General requirements for direction indicators

 

(1) Direction indicators shall be fitted at a height of not less than 450 millimetres and not more than two comma one metres above ground level and shall be unobscured when in use: Provided that—
(a) in respect of any flasher type direction indicator no minimum height shall apply; and
(b) a flasher type direction indicator fitted on the side of a motor vehicle shall not be more than two comma three metres above ground level.

 

(2) If lamps are incorporated in direction indicators, the lamps showing to the front shall be located on the same level and the lamps showing to the rear shall be located on the same level.

 

(3) Unless the direction indicators are so fitted that they are directly or by reflection visible to the driver of the vehicle concerned when the driver is in the driving position, a device shall be provided whereby the driver shall be given visible or audible warning when the indicators are in operation.

 

(4) The direction indicators shall be so fitted that the indicators on one side can be operated separately from those on the other side.

 

(5)        

(a) No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle, unless it is fitted with a separate switch to operate all the direction indicators simultaneously.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) shall not apply to—
(i) a tractor;
(ii) a trailer;
(iii) a motor cycle;
(iv) a motor tricycle;
(v) a motor quadrucycle; or
(vi) any motor vehicle which according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time before 1 January 1986.

 

(6)        

(a) The driver of a motor vehicle fitted with a separate switch to operate all the direction indicators simultaneously, shall put into operation simultaneously all the direction indicators fitted to such vehicle, when the vehicle is—
(i) stationary in a hazardous position; or
(ii) in motion in an emergency situation.
(b) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not put into operation simultaneously all the direction indicators fitted to such motor vehicle in a circumstance other than those referred to in paragraph (a).

 

(7) If more than one direction indicator is fitted to indicate any one turning movement all such indicators shall be inter-connected so as to operate simultaneously.

 

(8) Direction indicators shall be maintained in good working order.

 

(9) All lamps of direction indicators shall, when in use, emit diffused light.

 

(10) A motor vehicle which is being towed by a breakdown vehicle shall be fitted with a separate temporary set of direction indicators which is coordinated with the working of the direction indicators of the breakdown vehicle while such motor vehicle is so towed.