National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)RegulationsNational Road Traffic Regulations, 2000Chapter VI : Fitness of VehiclesPart II : Equipment on or in respect of vehicles155. Braking performance of service, emergency and parking brakes |
| (1) | No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles which, in terms of these regulations is required to be equipped with— |
| (a) | a service brake, unless such brake at all times— |
| (i) | in the case of a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles which is capable of exceeding a speed of 40 kilometres per hour, when it is applied from an initial speed of 35 kilometres per hour, complies with the requirements for braking performance set out in Table A hereunder; or |
| (ii) | in the case of a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles which is not capable of exceeding a speed of 40 kilometres per hour, when it is applied from the maximum speed which such vehicle or combination is capable of attaining, complies with the requirements for braking performance set out in Table B hereunder. |
| (b) | an emergency brake, unless such brake at all times— |
| (i) | in the case of a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles which is capable of exceeding a speed of 40 kilometres per hour, when it is applied from an initial speed of 35 kilometres per hour, complies with the requirements for braking performance set out in Table C hereunder; or |
| (ii) | in the case of a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles which is not capable of exceeding a speed of 40 kilometres per hour when it is applied from the maximum speed which such vehicle or combination is capable of attaining, complies with the requirements for braking performance set out in Table D hereunder; or |
| (c) | a parking brake, unless such brake, at all times, is capable of keeping such vehicle or combination stationary for an indefinite period with the engine disengaged on a gradient of not more than one in 8,33. |
REQUIREMENTS FOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE
TABLE A
Service brake of motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles capable of exceeding speed of 40km/h
|
Initial speed in km/h |
Maximum stopping distance in m |
Minimum deceleration in m/s2 |
Minimum equivalent braking force in N/kg |
Light motor vehicle |
35 |
14 |
4,4 |
4,4 |
Heavy motor vehicle |
35 |
16 |
4,4 |
4,4 |
TABLE B
Service brake of motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles not capable of exceeding speed of 40 km/h
Maximum initial speed in km/h |
Maximum stopping distance in m |
Minimum deceleration in m/s2 |
Minimum equivalent braking force in N/kg |
15 |
7 |
1,9 |
1,9 |
20 |
11 |
1,9 |
1,9 |
25 |
16 |
1,9 |
1,9 |
30 |
23 |
1.9 |
1,9 |
35 |
30 |
1,9 |
1,9 |
TABLE C
Emergency brake of motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles not capable of exceeding speed of 40km/h
|
Initial speed in km/h |
Maximum stopping distance in m |
Minimum deceleration in m/s2 |
Minimum equivalent braking force in N/kg |
Light motor vehicle |
35 |
30 |
1,9 |
1,9 |
TABLE D
Emergency brake of motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles not capable of exceeding speed of 40 km/h
Maximum initial speed in km/h |
Maximum stopping distance in m |
Minimum deceleration in m/s2 |
Minimum equivalent braking force in N/kg |
15 |
12 |
0,95 |
0,95 |
20 |
20 |
0,95 |
0,95 |
25 |
29 |
0,95 |
0,95 |
30 |
41 |
0,95 |
0,95 |
35 |
55 |
0,95 |
0,95 |
[Headings of Tables A, B, C and D substituted by regulation 29(d) of Notice No. R. 404 of 2007]
| (2) | Compliance with the requirements contemplated in subregulation (1)(a) and (b) shall be determined by— |
| (a) | actual road tests conducted on a road with a reasonable level, dry, smooth and hard surface which is free from loose material and with the stopping distance measured from the moment the particular brake is applied with the engine disengaged until the vehicle comes to rest; and |
| (b) | a suitable mechanical test. |
| (3) | When testing a brake on a combination of motor vehicles, the brakes of the drawn vehicle or vehicles shall be applied at the same moment as the brakes of the drawing vehicle. |
| (4) | Where in any prosecution for a contravention of subregulation (1) the question arises whether a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles travelled at a particular speed, the speed indicated by the speedometer of such vehicle or combination shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be deemed to be correct. |
| (5) | For the purposes of this regulation— |
| (a) | "light motor vehicle" means— |
| (i) | a motor-car; |
| (ii) | a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500 kilograms; or |
| (iii) | any other motor vehicle with a tare not exceeding 3 500 kilograms, |
but does not include a bus, minibus, midibus or goods vehicle; and
| (b) | "heavy motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is not a light motor vehicle. |
[Regulation 155 substituted by regulation 44 of Notice No. R. 846 of 2014]