Contour Marking
 

Regulation 189 is entitled "Material requirements for Retro Reflectors" and it reads. (1) Every retro-reflector required to be fitted to a vehicle or load in terms of these regulations shall - (a) not be lower than 300 millimetres and not higher than one comma five metres from ground level, measured to the centre of the retro-reflector: Provided that if, due to the design of the vehicle, it is impossible to fit retro-reflectors on the sides of the body of such vehicle at the prescribed height, the retro-reflectors shall be fitted as near as possible to such height; (b) if it is a - (i) white retro-reflector, be in a vertical position and face squarely to the front; (ii) red retro-reflector, be in a vertical position and face squarely to the back; and (iii) yellow retro-reflector, be in a vertical position and face squarely to the side, but, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these regulations, a motor vehicle manufactured, built or imported by a registered manufacturer, builder or importer may have a red retro-reflector fitted at the side towards the rear of such motor vehicle. (c) be clean and in good condition and not be obscured to the extent that it will be rendered ineffective; and (d) not be fitted to any movable part of the vehicle: Provided that this provision shall not apply to a warning sign contemplated in Regulation 191(2)(a). (2) Not withstanding anything to the contrary contained in these regulations, if due to the design of  the vehicle it is not possible to fit a retroreflector in the prescribed position, it may be fitted as close as possible to the prescribed position. This could be construed that reflective material to the rear must be red, but this is not the case. We have to refer to Regulation 192A which specifically talks about the tape used for contour marking and this, without exception, must be yellow to comply with Bureau of Standards Specification – SABS ECR 104. Also, Regulation 192 could cause confusion which reads – "Unlawful use of reflectors or reflective material"

Regulation 192A : Side and rear retro-reflective material to be fitted to vehicles (Contour or strip marking)

(1) For the purposes of this regulation “contour or strip marking” means yellow side and rear retroreflective material that shall comply with SABS ECE R104 “Uniform provisions concerning the approval of retro-reflective markings for heavy and long vehicles and their trailers: Provided that

1. application for (paragraph 3 of SABS ECE R104) and approval of paragraph 5 of SABS ECE R104 shall not be required, but the letter ”C” indicating contour marking as referred to in paragraph 5.4.3.1 of SABS ECE R104 and the circle surrounding the letter “E” followed by the distinguishing number of the country which has granted approval as referred to in paragraph 5.4.1. of SABS ECE R104, shall be brought onto the retro-reflective marking material;

2. that advertising consisting of retro-reflective logos, distinctive markings or letters, or characters may be used if it complies with the standard and used in conjunction with contour markings, excluding strips denoting the manufacturer.

(2)

1. A goods vehicle with a GVM of 3500 kg or more must be fitted with contour markings on the side and the rear. The rear contour markings may not be more than 600 mm from the lower part of the vehicle’s body.

2. A goods vehicle longer than 7 metres must be fitted with contour markings as described in paragraph (a) from 1 July 2004.

3. A trailer or caravan first registered after 1 July 2004 must be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a).

4. Any trailer or caravan must, from January 2006, be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a).

5. A bus first registered from 1 July 2004 shall be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a).

6. Any midibus or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA, must from 04 September 2006, be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a).

7. A midibus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA, first registered on or after 04 September 2006, and operating in terms of an operating licence, be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a).

8. Any minibus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA must from 1 January 2007 be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a). (i) A motor home first registered from 1 July 2007 be fitted with side and rear contour markings as described in paragraph (a).