Every festive season we hear about numerous deaths from road accidents, sadly the end of last year was no different. The minister of transport Dipuo Peters, has been actively working on new regulations and plans that can get the accident rate down. Not just over the festive period but for the entirety of the year. Now the minister has proposed a variety of amendments to the road regulations.

Some of these regulations are still being discussed and some have been implemented already. What are these new regulations and how will they affect you as a driver? Let’s go through them step by step.

DRAFT STAGE: When renewing your license drivers will now have to undergo a practical re-evaluation.

When renewing your license drivers will now have to undergo a practical re-evaluation. DRAFT STAGE: K53 is going to be completely reviewed and revamped (finally)

K53 is going to be completely reviewed and revamped (finally) DRAFT STAGE: A variety of speed limit changes: Speed limits to be reduced from 60km/h to 40km/h in urban areas, from 100km/h to 80km/h in rural areas, and from 120km/h to 100km/h on freeways running through a residential area

A variety of speed limit changes: Speed limits to be reduced from 60km/h to 40km/h in urban areas, from 100km/h to 80km/h in rural areas, and from 120km/h to 100km/h on freeways running through a residential area DRAFT STAGE: Large goods vehicles above 9000kg GVM to be banned from public roads during peak hour traveling times.

Large goods vehicles above 9000kg GVM to be banned from public roads during peak hour traveling times. In effect from May 11:No school child may be transported for remuneration in the back of a bakkie or any other goods compartment of a vehicle.

It is important to note that organisations like Justice Project SA have come out against the proposed changes.

“Traffic law enforcement in South Africa is not practiced consistently, ethically and in the interests of road safety. Instead there is more than ample evidence that it focuses primarily on revenue generation. Until this changes, no amount of new laws, misinformation on what laws do actually exist and threats of extended incarceration without bail are going to have any effect on the situation.”

While a group of kids in the back of a bakkie is not the safest, for thousands of children in SA it is the only way they can get to school. It’s not yet clear how the re-evaluation will work but let’s hope your parallel parking skills are still up to scratch. Do you think the proposed new speed limits will help reduce accidents? South African’s love to ask people how they got their license, maybe now we will have better drivers across the board .