Question:

I really hope you can help me! My girlfriend is Dyslexic and has trouble learning and understanding the words from the learners book and i would just like to know if there is any way that she could do a oral test or something or if there is someone who could assist us in this matter?

Your assistance would be much appreciated.

Answer:

Yes the National Road Traffic Act makes provision for the application of an oral test to can be conducted. The applicant needs to make an application at any Driving Licence Testing Centre, who will forward the application to the MEC of the province concerned.

A person may only do an oral test for a learner’s licence if he or she is illiterate and if the MEC has given permission.

Electronic learner’s licence test may also be used to examine a person for a learner’s licence.

I don’t see a definition of the word illiterate in the list if definitions in the Regulations.

Here are dictionary definitions:

illiterate adj 1: unable to read and write. (http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk)

dyslexia noun, psychol, medicine 1 a disorder characterized by difficulty in reading and writing, and in spelling correctly, although individual letters can be recognized, and other intellectual abilities are unimpaired. 2 popularly a term used for difficulties in reading and writing. (http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk)

I’m not sure how Regulation 104 is interpreted by the authorities in a case such as this. If the candidate can read and understand the printed questions, then the answers are multiple-choice options of which the correct answer must be selected. No writing is required. However, perhaps special oral testing can be arranged as noted above.

Gavin Hoole

The New K53 Manual
For Learner’s & Driver’s Licence Test Preparation

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On the Car Insurance Blog we have shared hundreds of posts on car and other vehicle insurance and also quite a few posts on related topics such as licensing etc.

We decided to assist another blog with some of our information – and to do so in Afrikaans. This might not only benefit those who are more comfortable in Afrikaans, but also stimulate some additional discussion to be shared on both platforms. To quote from the website in Afrikaans:

Waarom in Afrikaans?

Ten spyte daarvan dat die internet oorheers word deur Engels is daar tekens dat meer individue begin om hul gedagtes in hul moerdertaal op skrif begin stel en op die internet beskikbaar stel. Al is die meeste Afrikaanssprekendes ook Engels magtig, is hul trots Afrikaans en is ons van mening dat hul veral waar dit gaan oor tegniese finansiële begrippe baat sal vind by ‘n bespreking in Afrikaans.

We would like to invite those visitors who are also proud of Afrikaans as a first or second language to view the website at www.geselsversekering.co.za

As an example of a post on Car Insurance also view:

Is Jou Motor verseker teen die korrekte Markwaarde?

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PG Glass will be doing free chip repairs at the venue, and distribute important road safety and tourism information, road condition reports and gifts.

TRAC’s accident response and roadside assistance teams as well as reaction cars of both the SAPS and the Mpumalanga DCSS will be operating from the venue.

TRAC N4 offers a 24-hour emergency hotline on the N4 toll route between Pretoria and Mozambique. Dial the Helpdesk on 0800 8722 64 / 082 881 444. This is a free accident response and emergency service. TRAC also offers road user support, traffic and route updates through its Helpdesk.

The radio station Jacaranda RMFM will broadcast messages to encourage travelers to take regular safety breaks, especially stopping at ALZU. Bernice Bailey, Marketing Director of the PG Group, says the core message will be stressing the importance of safety breaks and windscreen safety.

“Few people are aware that the windscreen can contribute up to 60% to a vehicle’s structural safety in case of an accident,” she says.
“Negligence in this respect can cost lives. Even a small chip can eventually compromise the vehicle’s structural safety if it is not fixed promptly.”
“A windscreen consists of two pieces of glass stuck together with a piece of virgin vinyl – like a sandwich. Dirt and moisture that enter at the chip can weaken the strength of the windscreen on the long run, lessening the ability of the windscreen to help prevent the caving in of the vehicle’s roof.”

Other benefits of correctly manufactured and well-fitted windscreens include:

• Effective functioning of the airbag system
• Prevention of projectiles penetrating the windscreen
• Keeping passengers in the vehicle in the event of an accident, and
• Prevention of damage to eyes.

Bailey says the initiative is part of PG Glass’s ongoing commitment to promote road safety in South Africa.

Also view:

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• Vehicle Maintenance
• The importance of clear vision
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Related posts:

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In the past few years the Arrive Alive website has been approached by many new operators in the transport and small business industry – many of these providing weekend transport to those who go “on the night out”! It is of the utmost importance for road safety that we remove the drunk and impaired drivers from the roads. There is consensus amongst road safety officials that the answer to achieving this is enforcement – not only enforcement from our traffic officials – bit more important, self-enforcement!

The more road users we find self-breathalysing and monitoring their blood alcohol levels, the lesser the risk on our roads. The best advice however remains to use a designated or a zero alcohol level driver. This can either be a friend who is not drinking or a driver from a company who provides this facility at a price.

We usually look at the designated driver from a safety and sober driving perspective only. Bit are you aware how important this might be for your car Insurance premium?

Importance of the Designated Driver for Car Insurance

To consider the importance of the designated driver we should emphasize a few important aspects used in the calculation of car insurance premium:

• The insured car
• The insured driver
• The distance driven
• The time of the day that you drive
• The area where you drive
• Claims history etc

Through the application of the data provided by vehicle telematics these are factors that have become of ever increasing importance to the insurance company. Your car insurer will be aware that the greatest risk to car insurance claims is young drivers driving at night and especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Driving at these times by young drivers is most often associated with speeding, impaired driving and not only by the driver of that specific vehicle, but also other road users sharing the roads.

By rather pooling funds and paying the designated driver you may be able to save on the risks to your car insurer. You will be driving less at these dangerous times and reduce the risks of unnecessary insurance claims not only brought about by your own driving , but also the fender benders and more serious damage from other impaired drivers! Not only may you avoid increases brought about by additional claims, but you will also be able to travel less with your own vehicle – making ot possible for you to benefit from Pay As You Drive Car Insurance premiums!

We would like to urge all our vehicle owners to do some research on designated driving companies in the area where they live. Keep their numbers on your cellular phones and stay on the safe side- ALWAYS!!

A very important aspect to keep in mind is always “How much is too much to drink before I drive?”

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Now it seems the long arm of the law has caught up to him and the singer has a tough choice to make – spend time in jail or cough up a hefty fine.

Judges in a Berlin court have ordered the singer to spend 30 days in jail or pay 30 days’ income for drunkenly damaging a parked car after a pub crawl through the city in 2009.

Doherty’s monthly income is estimated at €30 000 (about R332 600) so he’s considering paying it off in instalments. After all, there’s your bar tab to think of as well.

PAY UP, OR GO TO CELL

“It will have to be weighed up,” court spokesman Martin Steltner said.

Doherty has so for neither paid the fine or surrendered but Steltner said that if he sends the money the case will be closed.

The singer played a gig earlier in Berlin without attracting official attention since the grace period to pay the fine was still in effect. Now, though, he’s received a letter from the court ordering him to report to jail to serve his time.

German authorities often allow hard-up defendants to pay fines by instalments if they demonstrate that they have no savings to draw on.

[Info from Deutsche Press Agency and Wheels24]

Also view:

Where is the safest place to park to avoid parked car insurance claims?

and

1. Parking with caution can prevent vehicle theft
2. What does the law say about ‘Storing’ vehicles by parking on a public road
3. Car Insurer finds women fear parallel parking!

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Question:

What is the cost to change ownership of a vehicle from one person to another?

Answer:

The change of ownership involves the registration fee and the fee for licensing of the vehicle

The registration fee is determined per province and ranges from 90-200 and the licence fee depends on the tare (empty weight) of the vehicle.

Your appropriate registering authority is able to prepare a quotation in this regard.

Kevin J. Kara-Vala

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Question:

Where must the licence disk be displayed on the car windscreen?

Answer:

In terms of regulation 36 if the vehicle is fitted with a transparent windscreen it shall fitted to the lower left hand corner of the windscreen in such a manner that the print on the face of the licence disc is visible to a person standing in front or to the left of the vehicle.

If the vehicle is not fitted with a transparent windscreen it shall be fitted in a conspicuous position to the left front side of such motor vehicle in such a manner that the print on the licence is clearly visible from that side. It may be fitted in a watertight container such that the it is visible through the transparent front of such container.

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We have come across a story on Wheel24 which is well worth sharing:

According to data released by the UK’s Driving Standards Agency, about one-third of all women (55 000 out of 170 000) failed on parallel parking. Others failed on reversing and failing to use their mirrors.

The agency also reported that female drivers need an average of 52 hours’ tuition beefore passing; men required 36.

BREASTS IN THE WAY?

According to the London Daily Mail, researchers at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, asked 65 volunteers to park an Audi. Women took as much as 20 seconds longer than men and some women blamed their sluggishness on their breast sizes, claiming that they found it diffcult to turn around while parking.

A stereotype was also found to be true among men: Boy Racer lives! According to data, 40 000 men failed their driving test in 2010 for moving off too quickly,; another 30 500 failed for jumping traffic lights.

The DSA lists the most frequent fault for both sexes as forgetting to check right, left and then right again at junctions.

The DSA reported that the UK first-time pass rate for men was 50.7%, for women 44.1%

[Info from Wheels 24]

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Teodoro Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, may need to restock his garage in France now that police have seized 11 supercars owned by the African dictator’s son.

GTSpirit.com reports that French authorities seized the vehicles at Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo’s home in Paris. Among them were two Bugatti Veyrons, a Maserati MC12, a Porsche Carrera GT, a Ferrari Enzo and a Ferrari 599 GTO.

CORRUPTION

Mbasogo and his son Teodorin are being investigated for allegedly using their nation’s funds to buy property around the globe along with charges of corruption. Teodorin, who has quite an impressive supercar collection of his own, is the owner of one of the most expensive houses in California, USA.

Our video shows a Maserati MC12 belonging to Teodorin being loaded on a police truck. An Aston Martin V8 V600 LM and a Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe are also visible and in the background a yellow Porsche Carrera GT.

Though this would be a tremendous loss to any car connoisseur Mbasogo and his son have plenty of supercars to go around in garages globally.

[Info from Wheels24]

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Sports Car Insurance

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Question:

“Hi there

I would appreciate it if you can send me details on fine prices like for not wearing seatbelt, talking on a cellphone, not stopping completely dead at a stop sign as i see that you have different prices listed as what the traffic officers are giving… I’m from mpumalanga.”

Answer:

We list all of the AARTO infringement fines at www.aarto.co.za/chargecodes-list.asp but I point out that these are the current fines applicable to AARTO ONLY and they are apparently being reviewed ahead of the publication of the 2011 regulations which will replace them.

The fact is that fines that are not issued under AARTO are set by local Magistrates and there are 281 municipalities that are not involved in AARTO.

If you want to know about any fines that exist under your name, unfortunately you are going to have to phone the traffic authorities in all of the areas you have driven and get them to refer you to their contracted websites or provide you with a pint out as there is currently no single point of reference.

Best Regards,

Howard Dembovsky
National Chairman – Justice Project South Africa (NPC)

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