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Contour Marking
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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" |
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The Regulation 192 reads -
(1)
Subject to subregulation (2), no person shall operate on a public road a
vehicle whilst a reflector or reflective material fitted to such vehicle
does not reflect a -
(a)
white colour to the front of such vehicle;
(b) red colour to the rear of such vehicle; and
(c) yellow colour to the side of such vehicle, 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.
(2)
The provisions of this regulation shall not apply in respect of -
(a)
an ambulance, rescue vehicle, police vehicle, a vehicle driven by a
traffic officer in the execution of his or her duties and a
fire-fighting vehicle;
(b) a number plate;
(c) a warning sign referred to in Regulation 191;
(d) direction indicators referred to in Regulation
326;
(e) a sign referred to in Regulation 293(2) or 295(2); and
(f) retro-reflective material as contemplated in Regulation 192A.
(3)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1) the pedals,
pedal arms or spokes of a pedal cycle shall, if such cycle is
operated on a public road during the period between sunset and
sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or
unfavourable weather conditions, persons and vehicles upon the
public road are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150
metres, be fitted with yellow or white reflectors or reflective
material.
These two
regulations do not include masking tape which is dealt with in
Regulation 192A.
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