The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has warned motorists that it is clamping down on unroadworthy cars.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla stated that the onus is on owners to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy, and that failing to do so will likely lead to the car being impounded.
The Department of Transport has flagged unroadworthy vehicles as a major concern for public safety, as these models often endanger the lives of pedestrians and other cars due to faulty components like worn-out brakes.
“Our goal is to reduce accidents caused by mechanical failures and enforce compliance with traffic laws,” said Fihla.
The JMPD noted that vehicles discovered to have substantial faults cannot be allowed on public streets, meaning that they will be impounded.
The announcement has been met with support from civil action groups like the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), who have previously sounded the alarm on the pervasive issue of unsafe cars on South Africa’s roads.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage stated that it is important for the police to take visible action against these vehicles, arguing that it is a problem that should have been resolved a long time ago.
“We have recently exposed a lot of corruption in this space. Our concern is that there isn’t a digitised co-ordinated plan by the ministry of transport to address this problem, and therefore, we will always have unroadworthy cars on our roads,” he said.
“We know a lot of roadworthy checks are not being done on these cars that are not roadworthy, and when there are accidents, a lot of people die. It is an important matter, and I think the department of transport needs to do a lot in this space.”
The Automobile Association expressed a similar sentiment, explaining that there are serious consequences for all road users when defective cars are allowed on the streets.
“Mechanical failure, often due to poor maintenance or unroadworthy conditions, is a contributing factor in many road crashes,” it said.
“While human error remains a leading cause of collisions, the condition of the vehicle significantly increase the likelihood and severity of a crash.”
What the police are looking for
A vehicle is deemed compliant when it adheres to the provisions of the National Road Traffic Act, meaning it is in a suitable condition to operate on a public road.
Fihla noted that, while there isn’t a specific number of checks a car must pass before it can be used, a comprehensive roadworthiness inspection will cover nearly all of a vehicle’s critical components.
This includes, but is not limited to, the following, as reported by TimesLive:
- Brake pads and discs, handbrake functionality, brake fluid levels, and the ABS system (if equipped). There should be no leaks from the hydraulic system.
- Steering mechanism, shock absorbers, wheel alignment, and no excessive play in steering components.
- All lights (headlights, indicators, brake lights, reverse lights, fog lights), horn functionality, windscreen wipers and washers, and dashboard warning lights. All lights and indicators must be in working order and without water collection in fittings.
- Tyre tread depth (minimum 1.6mm), tyre condition (no bulges, cuts or exposed cords), wheel nuts and rims. The spare wheel must also be in good condition.
- Vehicle frame integrity, rust or damage affecting structural integrity, door functionality (must open freely from inside and outside), seat belts and their anchoring points, and the bonnet and boot must be secure.
- The windscreen must be free of cracks (especially in the driver’s line of sight), and all windows designed to open and close must do so easily.
- No fluid leaks (engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid), battery properly secured, and all major filters (oil, air, fuel) must be clean and functioning properly.
- No excessive smoke or noise.
- Mirrors, speedometer and odometer in working order, and proper functioning of central locking.
- Engine number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) must match those on the registration document, with no signs of tampering.
If a person’s car is flagged during a roadside inspection, they will need to have all of the identified issues fixed before they can use it again.
Once the repairs are complete, the individual needs to take the car to a registered vehicle testing centre using a flatbed truck (as the car cannot be driven until it passes the test).
The testing centre will then issue a roadworthiness certificate, provided the car passes all the checks.
Owners can then present their certificate to the JMPD and pay the fees for the car’s impoundment, after which they can use it on the roads once more.
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