Electric cars- Bound for success of failure?

In recent years there has been much speculation about cars and how they affect the environment (CO2 emission etc) but as of late, many manufacturers think they have found the solution, the electric car.

The electric car runs solely on battery power therefore it emits no fumes (well almost. They are 97% cleaner than regular cars). Its much more economical than using fuel as fuel prices are constantly on the rise while the price of electricity remains constant. A positive aspects of electric cars are than when the car is in idle, the motor does not run where as a regular vehicles motor constantly runs which affects oil consumption as well as fuel consumption.

With every positive comes a negative. The downside to electric cars is that they need to be recharged on a regular bases. The average electric car, excluding Tesla (named after Nikola Tesla) takes approximately a day to charge which will only get you between 80km and 130km on one charge,  meaning your electricity bill will go through the roof. Another downside is that these cars usually only have an average speed of 150km+- which is nothing for a true petrol-head.

Electric cars may seem appealing to people who want to save the environment (we call these people hippies) but they are honestly a waste of time. Yes, electric cars are cheaper, yes they are cleaner and yes, they are more economical. But they don't give you that feeling of raw power beneath your foot, the smell of fumes in the air, and that sweet sound of a motor burning fuel as your push down on the accelerator.

Traffic laws and fines

These are the traffic laws of the country as of 2008.The laws HAVE NOT changed since then other than the DUI law. Should a traffic official fine you for any amount other than the amount stated below, you are allowed to appeal the fine in a court of law.

*NOTE: There are no laws pertaining to traffic officials removing license disks. A traffic official may remove your disk for their discretion without having a valid reason. This is a power that many of them abuse, however, when your disk is removed, you are entitled to lay a complaint against that official for removing your disk (this is a stupid law)

There is no law about ground clearance. The 40mm and 60mm is nonsense used to make money out of drivers.

Registration and licensing of motor vehicles:

Violation	Fine	Pts
Motor vehicle not registered	R 1 000	3
Motor vehicle not licensed	R 1 000	3
Operating vehicle with special licence on public road	R 500	1
Motor vehicle with number plates not SABS approved	R 500	1
Motor vehicle displaying no number plates	Court	6
Motor vehicle displaying only one number plate	R 500	2
Motor vehicle with plates not applicable	Court	6
Motor vehicle with number plate obscured or illegible	R 250	0
Motor vehicle with both plates obscured or  illegible	Court	6
Licence disc not displayed	R 500	1
Licence disc obscured or illegible	R 500	1
Licence disc on trailer exposed to weather	R 500	1
Operator did not change address particulars	R 500	1
Operator did not change particulars of proxy	R 500	2
Disposing of unregistered or unlicensed vehicle or of a vehicle with no registration or licensing papers	R 1 000	3
Owner did not report motor vehicle stolen	R 500	1
Owner did not report motor vehicle permanently unfit for use	R 500	1
Motor vehicle does not have an engine number	Court	6
Used motor trade plate for other purposes than described	R 500	1
Motor trade plate not displayed or displayed incorrectly	R 500	1
Transport persons on goods on vehicle with special permit	R 500	1
Temporary or special permit not displayed correctly or illegible	R 500	1
Display temporary or special permit not applicable to motor vehicle	Court	6

Violation	Fine	Pts
Driver not licensed	R 1 250	4
Driver does not have licence with him in vehicle	R 500	1
Driver did not disclose disqualification when applying for learner’s licence	R 1 250	4
Driver fails to submit licence to licensing authorities of the onset of any disqualifying disability	R 1 000	3
Driver did not notify authority of change of address	R 500	1
Employ or permit unlicensed driver to drive vehicle	R 1 250	4
Driver does not have professional driving permit	R 1 250	4
Failed to produce PrDP to court	R 1 000	3
Failed to produce licence to court	R 500	1

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Fitness of vehicles

Violation	Fine	Pts
Not displaying roadworthy certificate	R 500	1
Operating motor vehicle without roadworthy certificate	R 1 000	3
Operating vehicle on public road, contrary to notice to discontinue	R 750	2
No emergency/parking brake on non-RWC vehicle	R 750	2
No emergency/parking brake on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Parking brake inadequate on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Parking brake inadequate on RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Brakes not in good working order on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Brakes not in good working order on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
No airbrake warning device	R 750	2
Steering gear unsafe or too much free play	R 750	2
Illegal left-hand drive vehicle	R 500	1
Horn not working properly	R 250	0
Illegal window or windscreen	R 250	0
No windscreen wiper	R 250	0
Defective/no rearview mirror	R 500	1
Defective fuel tank, pipes	R 500	1
Defective/no fuel tank cap	R 500	1
Electrical wiring not properly installed / maintained / insulated etc	R 500	1
Engine not covered	R 250	0
Inefficient/no silencer	R 250	0
Excessive exhaust smoke	R 250	0
Fumes in cab	R 250	0
Oil dripping onto exhaust	R 250	0
Illegal entrances and exits	R 250	0
No reverse gear	R 250	0
Worn, damaged or illegal tyres (per tyre)	R 250	0
Missing seat belt	R 500	1
Defective seat belt	R 250	0
No speedometer	R 500	1
Defective speedometer	R 250	0
Defective/no wheel flaps	R 250	0
No rear underrun bumper	R 500	1
Defective/incorrectly fitted rear underrun bumper	R 500	1
Illegal axle on semi-trailer	R 500	1

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Lighting and reflectors

Violation
Fine	Pts
Driving between sunset and sunrise without lights	R 750	2
Not using dipped beam with oncoming traffic	R 500	1
One rear or stop lamp not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 250	0
One rear or stop lamp not working on RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Two rear or stop lamps not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Two rear or stop lamps not working on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Lamps showing incorrect colour on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Lamps showing incorrect colour on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
No chevron or incorrectly fitted	R 500	1
Chevron not SABS approved type	R 500	1
One direction indicator not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 100	0
One direction indicator not working on RWC vehicle	R 250	0
Both direction indicators not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 250	0
Both direction indicators not working on RWC vehicle	R 500	1

Violation	Fine	Pts
Disobeying stop sign or robot with non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Disobeying stop sign or robot with RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Overtaking on a white line with non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Overtaking on a white line with RWC vehicle	R 750	1
Pedestrian or cyclist disobeyed regulatory sign	R 100	0

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Speeding

Violation		Fine	Pts
Exceeding the speed limit by:
	11 km/h to 15 km/h	R 250	0
	16 km/h to 20 km/h	R 500	1
	21 km/h to 25 km/h	R 750	2
	26 km/h to 30 km/h	R 1 000	3
	31 km/h to 35 km/h	R 1 250	4
	36 km/h to 40 km/h	R 1 500	5
	Above 40 km/h	Court	6

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Lane discipline

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to keep to the left	R 1 000	3
Driving on the wrong side or across a dividing strip or traffic island	R 1 000	3
Overtaking illegally on the left	R 1 000	3
Cutting in after overtaking	R 1 000	3
Overtaking on the shoulders or verge	R 1 000	3
Overtaking on a blind rise, a curve, or where view is restricted	R 1 000	3
Accelerating while being overtaken	R 1 000	3
Encroaching the right half of the road obstructing oncoming traffic	R 1 000	3
Passing a stationary bus without due care	R 500	1
Driving on shoulder when circumstances do not permit	R 500	1
Driving across a road when it is unsafe to do so	R 1 000	3
Entering a road when it is unsafe to do so	R 1 000	3
Obstructing other traffic while changing lanes	R 1 000	3
Failing to use indicators	R 500	1
Failing to indicate when changing lanes	R 500	1
Failing to yield to the right at a traffic island	R 750	2
Failing to keep left while making a left turn	R 750	2
Turning right while unsafe	R 750	2
Failing to keep left while making a right turn (cutting corner)	R 750	2

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Stopping and parking

Violation		Fine	Pts
Stopping or parking
	Alongside/opposite another vehicle where road is less than 9 metres	R 1 000	3
	Alongside or opposite an excavation or obstruction	R 1 000	3
	At or within 6 metres of a bridge or tunnel	R 1 000	3
	At or within 6 metres of narrow portion of road	R 1 000	3
	Constituting a danger or obstruction	R 1 000	3
	Within the railway reserve of level crossing	R 1 000	3
	On the wrong side of the road	R 1 000	3
	In contravention of a “no-stopping” sign	R 750	2
	On a freeway illegally	R 500	1
Parking:
	In contravention of any road sign	R 250	0
	Double parked	R 250	0
	At excavation or obstruction	R 250	0
	Within the railway reserve of level crossing	R 250	0
	Within 9 metres of an approach to pedestrian  crossing	R 250	0
	Where width of road was constricted	R 250	0
	Within tunnel or on a bridge	R 250	0
	Obstructing a fire hydrant	R 250	0
	Obstructing a traffic sign	R 250	0
	On the sidewalk	R 250	0
	On non-urban road within a metre of the edge	R 250	0
	Blocking entrance to  public road	R 250	0
	Within 5 metres of an urban intersection	R 250	0
	On the actuating mechanism of a robot	R 250	0
	Further than 450 mm from the kerb	R 250	0
	On road less than 5,5 metres wide	R 250	0
	On a traffic island or pedestrian mall	R 250	0

 Reckless driving and driving under the influence

Violation		Fine	Pts
Reckless driving		Court	6
Inconsiderate driving		R 250	0
Driving under the influence		Court	6
Blood alcohol level for:
	Ordinary motorist not less than  0,05 g per 100 ml	Court	6
	PrDP driver not less than 0,02 g per 100 ml	Court	6
Breath alcohol level for:
	Ordinary motorist not less than 0,24 mg per 1 000 ml	Court	6
	PrDP driver not less than 0,10 mg per 1 000 ml	Court	6
Smoked before blood/breath specimen was taken		R 1 250	4
Refusing to give blood or breath sample		R 1 500	5

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Miscellaneous

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to comply with traffic officer’s instructions	R 500	1
Unauthorised tampering with vehicle	Court	6
Furnishing false information	Court	6
False number plate	Court	6
Not wearing seatbelt	R 250	0
No warning triangle	R 500	1
Warning triangle not as prescribed	R 250	0
Warning triangle not displayed or displayed incorrectly	R 250	0
Reversing too far or dangerously	R 1 000	3
Following too closely	R 1 000	3
Permitting a person to occupy a position in a vehicle restricting the driver’s full control	R 1 000	3
Permitting a person to interfere with the steering or operating mechanism	R 1 000	3
Driver not positioned to exercise complete control of vehicle	R 1 000	3
Leaving vehicle unattended and unbraked	R 250	0
Pulling away from kerb before it is safe	R 500	1
Failing to give way to emergency vehicle sounding an alarm (eg ambulance or fire engine)	R 500	1
Part of driver’s body (elbow) protruding from moving vehicle	R 250	0
Allowing person on roof or step while in motion	R 250	0
Engine emitting smoke	R 250	0
Leaving engine running unattended	R 250	0
Spillage of oil petrol or rubbish	R 250	0
Running engine while filling up	R 250	0
Jumping on or off moving vehicle, endangering others	R 100	0
Driving on the sidewalk	R 500	1
Driving while using hand-held cell-phone	R 500	1
Excessive noise	R 250	0
Hooter used illegally	R 250	0
Failing to yield to pedestrian at crossing	R 500	1
Pedestrian moving into path of vehicle suddenly at crossing	R 100	0
Overtaking stationary vehicle at pedestrian crossing	R 500	1
Racing on public road	R 1 000	3
Driving in convoy during weekend	R 500	1
Wilful obstruction of traffic flow	R 750	2
Abandoned vehicle	R 500	1
Damaging public road	R 1 000	3
Using chocks between wheel and road	R 1 000	3
Trading illegally on public road	R 250	0

Where have all the big clubs gone?

With all the new up and coming clubs fresh on the scene, one has to ask, what has happened to all the familiar names?
The big clubs that once ruled events and car shows are now just a part of history as they make way for the future of the motoring world. Clubs such as Extreme dubs, Japmotion, Toyota addix, Boxboys, SR20 and others have all but vanished while clubs such as JapCruz, So Solid and others are taking over. These new clubs are growing at a dramatic pace and if the bigger clubs dont watch out, it wont be long until some of their members begin jumping ship.

The main up-coming event is the Charity Nights event which will consist of 6 shows and runs over a period of 6 weeks. We hope to see a few more familiar rides there. Since hibernation began many of the clubs failed to reawaken.