Jumping a red traffic light in Johannesburg could mean a R500 fine, but the same offence will cost only R300 in Cape Town. If you are trapped doing 170 km/h on a freeway in Bloemfontein, you are looking at a fine of about R1 500, but that would be about R800 in Pretoria and an appearance in court in Durban. CARtoday.com took a look at fines in the major areas and compiled a report of the costs and the opinions of traffic officials.
Jumping a red traffic light in Johannesburg could mean a R500 fine, but the same offence will cost only R300 in Cape Town. If you are trapped doing 170 km/h on a freeway in Bloemfontein, you are looking at a fine of about R1 500, but that would be about R800 in Pretoria and an appearance in court in Durban.
Traffic fines are the bane of our lives, something we are constantly aware of, but not many people actually know exactly how much they will be penalised if they commit an offence.
Magistrates use the Road Traffic Act as a guideline to set fines in their areas, but each is allowed to set a different amount. This explains why a motorist could be fined different amounts in different areas in the same province. CARtoday.com looked at fines in the metropolitan areas of some of the more populated provinces of South Africa to give readers an idea of the amounts payable.
These fines could differ slightly in rural areas or even in towns or suburbs that are situated outside the jurisdiction of the metropolitan police. The fines mentioned below refer to light motor vehicles.
Standardising the fines would be difficult says Steve Edwards, regional commander of the Durban Metropolitan Police.
“Some areas have a unique problem that is not a problem in another city, so that’s why a magistrate in each area sets a different fine,” he said. One thing that is the same anywhere in the country is the penalty for drunk driving. If you are caught, it’s straight to jail or court.
Fines issued by traffic officials in all areas are capped at R1 500, and when it comes to speeding fines, a 10 km/h "grace space" is allowed before the penalty is calculated. Any offence that requires a higher fine has to be issued by a magistrate, as in drunk driving, excessive speeding or reckless driving.
In the Free State, as in most places, speeding is a problem. George van Vuuren, principal inspector of the Bloemfontein traffic police, said that overtaking on a barrier line was also a major concern. “Those lines are there for a specific reason and the engineers had a good reason to put them there. There could a blind rise or a curve where it is dangerous to overtake. But I think some people see a barrier line as a challenge and want to see if they can make it,” he said.
Van Vuuren said he would like to see the fining system changed, with less emphasis on “petty fines”. “Some offences are minor, like a hooter not working, or the windscreen is cracked but not in a way that impairs the driver’s vision,” he said.
“Personally, I also do not agree with fining motorists who do not come to a complete stop at a stop sign. If there are no other cars approaching, a driver should be able to just do a quick check and then keep driving,” Van Vuuren said.
Department of Transport spokesman Mike Mabasa said the department was reviewing some of the fines. He said, as an example, that fines should be increased for some offences, such as overloading and speeding. A truck may only carry a gross vehicle mass of up to 56 tons, but Mabasa said some companies overloaded their trucks.
“The fine may be R1 000, but it does not stop the companies from overloading the trucks because the additional load may bring in R30 000 extra for them, so R1 000 means nothing. We have to change this,” he said.
Mabasa said that increased fines for speeding would act as a deterrant. Some, however, are not convinced that speed on its own is responsible for so many of the deaths on the roads, as there are other factors that must also contribute, such as drunk driving, or speeding in an inappropriate area, for example close to a school where children could get hurt. But Mabasa said he believes it is.
“Speed kills, we have done studies on it. The impact at 180 km/h in an 80 km/h zone is going to be greater than that of a car within the speed limit,” he said.
To help solve the problem of the high number of taxi accidents, the speed limit on highways for taxis and buses was dropped to 100 km/h. Mabasa said trucks currently had tachometers, similar to the black box on an aeroplane, that monitored the driver’s actions and checked whether he was speeding or not. “We are looking at having a similar system added to taxis through the recapitilisation plan (the government’s plan to introduce new 18- and 35-seater taxis to replace the ageing taxi fleet in the country),” he said.
As in many other areas, the Durban police are concerned about the high number of pedestrians on freeways and major artery roads in their jurisdiction. “Even though we have put up barriers and build bridges, pedestrians prefer to walk along the roads. The only way to change this is through education, to make sure people understand why it is dangerous to do this,” Edwards said.
Edwards also said taxis were a problem. “Some of their anti-social behaviour is shocking and they are a law unto themselves,” he said.
He said taxi drivers were fined, but the problem in the past was that they never paid, though this was changing.
The Durban Metropolitan police have opened up a special warrant division, with 60 officers supported by civilian staff, that stages regular road blocks to check for outstanding fines and warrants. “If they are caught they are arrested immediately, and it is making motorists and taxi drivers more accountable. We also have reminders on electricity bills of any outstanding fines,” said Edwards.
Edwards said that though some people believed that such measures only reached law-abiding motorists who had registered their vehicles correctly, the metro police were changing this perception. “We are now reaching a bigger sector of the community through the regular road blocks, and if the vehicles are not registered properly they are impounded,” Edwards said.
According to Wayne Minnaar, spokesman for Gauteng Metropolitan Police, most of the fines issued in his area were for speeding, mainly on freeways. “The second most ticketed offence is for disregarding road signs, and the third offence is vehicle defects,” Minnaar said.
Van Vuuren also felt another problem was the K53 test that forms part of the licence exam. “It’s a system we took from England, and it does not suit our traffic situation and infrastructure. We need to form our own system.”
Van Vuuren feels that education is the only way to ensure that drivers obey the rules of the roads. “Instead of fining them, we should make them understand why it is wrong. But you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, so we should begin the process at pre-school level and continue it throughout the school career. Students should then have to pass an exam in matric in order to qualify to apply for a learner’s licence. It’s about a new mindset,” Van Vuuren said.
But he says there are good things about the K53 that could be incorporated into a new system. “It’s good because it makes you aware of what is happening around you. But the problem is that motorists use the K53 system on the day they do their driver’s exam, and then forget it,” he said.
Van Vuuren would like to see the driver’s licence exam become stricter. “It should be made more intense, to test their capabilities and ensure that they learn discipline on the roads,” he said.
Many traffic officials feel that a points system on the driver’s licence could be very effective. In such systems, if a driver commits an offence he loses points on his licence, and if this continues, the licence is eventually suspended. “It would be an effective way to bring order on the roads, as more motorists will be concerned about the possibility of losing their licence than paying a fine. But it must be implemented very harshly,” Van Vuuren said.
Department of Transport spokesman Mike Mabasa said the government was planning to introduce a demerit points system similar to that used in Australia. “It is still in the development stages as there were slight hiccups about the funds and who would administer it, but we are moving along. The legislation has been passed in Parliament, but deadlines on implementation have not yet been set,” he said.
Summary of some of the fines in major cities:
JOHANNESBURG
FREEWAY SPEEDING (Speed limit 120 km/h):
On a freeway with speed limit of 120 km/h fines start at 131 km/h. Between 131 and 135 km/h the fine is R100, thereafter R100 for every 5km/h increase until 166 km/h, then it R200 for every 5 km/h until 180 km/h. Beyond 181 km/h there is no admission of guilt. The accused is sent a notice to appear before a magistrate who will determine a fine or jail sentence.
SPEEDING IN URBAN AREAS:
In urban areas the speed limit is 60 km/h, and a fine of R100 is payable between 71 and 75 km/h. The amount payable increases by a further R100 for every 5 km/h above 75 km/h until 120 km/h, at which point there is no admission of guilt option and the driver will receive notice to appear before a magistrate.
OTHER FINES:
Jumping a red robot – R500
Disregarding a stop sign – R500
Talking on a cellphone while driving – R500
Not wearing a seatbelt – R100
Not indicating – R200
Both indicators not working – R200
Stopping in a no stopping zone – R200
Stopping in a no stopping zone and causing an obstruction – R500.
Parking within nine metres of a pedestrian crossing – R200
Parking within a tunnel or subway – R200
Not complying with scholar patrol sign – R50
No driver’s licence – R500
Unroadworthy vehicle – R500 (but fine is higher for large vehicles, for example, a bus would be R1000)
Car not licensed – R200
Tyres smooth – R200 per tyre
BLOEMFONTEIN
FREEWAY SPEEDING (Speed limit 120 km/h)
130-135 km/h – R200
136-140 – R300
141-145 – R500
146-150 – R700
151-155 – R900
156-160 – R1 100
161-165 – R1 300
166-170 – R1 500
171 km/h and above – no admission of guilt
SPEEDING IN URBAN AREAS
(Speed limit 60 km/h)
70-75 km – R70
76-80 – R80
81-85 – R100
86-90 – R125
91-95 – R150
96-100 – R180
101-105 – R200
106-110 – R250
111-115 – R300
116-120 – R350
121-125 – R400
126-130 – R450
131-135 – R500
136-140 – R600
141-145 – R700
146-150 – R800
151-155 – R1000
156 km/h and above – no admission of guilt.
(Speed limit 80 km/h)
91-95 km/h – R100
96-100 – R150
101-105 – R200
106-110 – R250
111-115 – R300
116-120 – R400
121-125 – R550
126-130 – R700
131-135 – R900
136-140 – R1 200
141-145 – R1 500
146 and above – no admission of guilt
OTHER FINES
Jumping a red robot – R500
Disregarding a stop sign – R300
Talking on cellphone while driving – R500
Not wearing a seatbelt – R100
Not indicating – R100
Both indicators not working – R200 for each indicator
Stopping in a no stopping zone – R300
Stopping in a no stopping zone and causing an obstruction – R500
Parking within nine metres of a pedestrian crossing – R500
Parking within a tunnel or subway – R500
Not complying with scholar patrol sign – R200
No driver’s licence – R300 for motor vehicle, R500 for truck
Crossing barrier line – R1000
Unroadworthy vehicle – R500
Car not licenced – R200
Tyres smooth – R100 per tyre
CAPE TOWN
FREEWAY SPEEDING (Speed limit 120 km/h)
130-134 km/h – R30
135-139 – R60
140-144 – R120
145-149 – 180
150-154 – R240
155-159 – R300
160-164 – R450
165-169 – R675
170-174 – R900
175-179 – R1 200
180-184 – R1 500
185 km/h and above – no admission of guilt
SPEEDING IN URBAN AREAS
(Speed limit 80 km/h)
90-94 km/h – R30
95-99 – R60
100-104 – R120
105-109 – R180
110-114 – R240
115-119 – R300
120-124 – R450
125-129 – R675
130-134 – R900
135-139 – R1 200
140-144 – R1 500
145 and above – no admission of guilt
(Speed limit 60 km/h)
70-74 km – R30
75-79 – R60
80-84 – R120
85-89 – R180
90-94 – R240
95-99 – R300
100-104 – R450
105-109 – R675
110-114 – R900
115-119 – R1 200
120-124 – R1 500
125 and above – no admission of guilt.
OTHER FINES:
Jumping a red robot – R300
Disregarding a stop sign – R300
Talking on cellphone while driving – R300
Not wearing a seatbelt – R100
Not indicating – R100
Indicators not working – R60 per indicator
Stopping in a no stopping zone – R150
Stopping in a no stopping zone and causing an obstruction – R150.
Crossing a barrier line – R300
Parking within nine metres of a pedestrian crossing – R80
Parking within a tunnel or subway – n/a
Not complying with scholar patrol sign – R200 if it has traffic lights, or R60 if it is a sign for cyclists
No driver’s licence – R200
Unroadworthy vehicle – R100, but car usually impounded as well.
Car not licensed – R200, but R150 if license not displayed
Tyres smooth – R100 per tyre
Drunk driving – No admission of guilt.
DURBAN
FREEWAY SPEEDING (Speed limit 120 km/h)
130-134 km/h – R100
135-139 – R200
140-144 – R350
145-149 – R500
150-155 – R700
155-159 – R1 000
160-164 – R1 250
165-169 – R1 500
170 km/h and above – no admission of guilt
SPEEDING IN URBAN AREAS
(Speed limit 60 km/h)
70-75 km/h – R100
75-79 – R140
80-84 – R180
85-89 – R240
90-94 – R300
95-99 – R400
100-104 – R500
105-109 – R600
110-114 – R700
115-119 – R1 000
120-124 – R1 500
125 km/h and above – no admission of guilt.
(Speed limit 80 km/h)
90-94 km/h – R100
95-99 – R150
10-104 – R200
105-109 – R250
110-114 – R300
115-119 – R400
120-124 – R500
125-129 – R700
130-134 – R1 000
135-139 – R1 250
140-144 – R1 500
145 and above – no admission of guilt
OTHER FINES
Jumping a red robot – R500
Disregarding a stop sign – R500
Talking on cellphone while driving – R500
Not wearing a seatbelt – R100
Not indicating – R100
Stopping in a no stopping zone – R200
Parking within nine metres of a pedestrian crossing – R100
Parking within a tunnel or subway – R200
Not complying with scholar patrol sign – R100
Following another vehicle too closely – R500
Unroadworthy vehicle R600, but for bigger vehicle – R1500
No driver’s licence – R700 (but R100 if you have one, but don’t have it on you)
Overtaking where prohibited – R1000
TSHWANE (PRETORIA)
FREEWAY SPEEDING (Speed limit 120 km/h)
130-134 km/h – R100
135-139 – R150
140-144 – R200
145-149 – R300
150-154 – R400
155-159 – R500
160-164 – R600
165-169 – R700
170-174 – R800
175-179 – R900
180-184 – R1 100
185-189 – R1 300
190-194 – R1 500
195 km/h and above – no admission of guilt
SPEEDING IN URBAN AREAS
(Speed limit 80 km/h)
90-94 km/h – R100
95-99 – R150
100-104 – R300
105-109 – R500
110-114 – R700
115-119 – R900
120-124 – R1 200
125-129 – R1 500
130 km/h and above – no admission of guilt
(Speed limit 60 km/h)
70-74 km/h –R100
75-79 – R150
80-84 – R300
85-89 – R500
90-94 – R700
95-99 – R900
100-104 – R1 200
105-109 – R1 500
110 km/h and above – no admission of guilt
Other Fines:
Jumping a red robot – R1000
Disregarding a stop sign – R500
Talking on cellphone while driving – R200
Not wearing a seatbelt – R200
Not indicating – R200
No indicator working – R200
Crossing barrier line R– 1 000
Stopping in no stopping zone – R200
Stopping and causing a obstruction – R200
Parking within 9m of pedestrian crossing – R100
Parking within a tunnel or subway – R100
Not complying with scholar patrol sign – R500
No drivers licence – R300
Unroadworthy vehicle – R300
Unlicensed car – R200
Licence not displayed – R100
Tyre smooth – R200 per tyre
Drunk driving – Arrest case.
CARtoday.com would like to hear your opinion on the subject.