As of 1 February 2011 there will be several amendments to the Road Traffic Act coming into effect. There is one specific amendment that the car insurance industry might like to take note of:
Amendment on heavy motor vehicle licences
- As of 1 February 2011 persons who obtain driving licences for a code C, C1, EC or EC1 driving licence will not be allowed to drive a motor vehicle that requires a code B or code EB licence (in old terms – a person with a code 10, 11, 13 or 14 licence cannot drive a vehicle for which you need a code 08 licence). This will only apply to new licence holders.
Why is this of specific importance to the Car Insurance industry?
This amendment might well be a reflection on the efforts to curb corruption in the licensing process and the many accidents caused by drivers who have gained the so called “small truck licences”
In recent discussions with car insurance companies I have been informed that many car insurers do not wish to insure the vehicles of people who presented the “code 10 licences”. Too often it has been suspected that these licenses were acquired fraudulently by drivers who should not have been adjudged fit and proper drivers. It has often happened that these same drivers are involved in accidents a month later whilst driving luxury passengers vehicles!
Also view:
Several amendments to Road Traffic Act to come into effect 1 February
Update: Road Traffic Amendment 18 – GG 33980 and draft Amendment 19 – GG 33979
The amendment concerning the driving licence legislation that was supposed to become effective on 1 February 2011, where a new holder of a Class C1, C, EC1 or EC licence was not allowed to drive a Class B or EB vehicle has been amended again.
Amendment 18 that is published in Government Gazette 33980 of 1 February 2011 has changed the legislation back to the position that applied before 1 February 2011 and new Class C1, C, EC1 or EC holders of licences may drive Class B or EB vehicles respectively.
The gazette also corrected an error in regulation 138(1)(j) – the word “roadworthy” was replaced with the word “unroadworthy”