New driver's licence test

In a bid to cut the carnage on South African roads the National Department of Transport is to make major changes to the driver's licence test next year.

The pilot project to turn out more skillful and safer drivers will kick off in KwaZulu-Natal in February or March next year and will be extended to the other provinces by the end of the year.

Spokesperson Collen Msibi said the department would work with driving schools and licence station inspectors to make them aware of the new rules and tests incorporated into advanced manuals.

He said that at present driving schools were more interested in getting drivers to just pass their tests on the specific day but with a more specialised and advanced driving school manual, they would help to "drastically" improve road safety.

Drivers would be taught many of the skills encountered in the real world on the road such as dealing with situations when robots stop working, overtaking safely, reversing out of difficult places to get on to busy roads, dealing with busy intersections, driving in wet and rainy weather and manoeuvring in traffic congestion.

"Rules on overtaking will be emphasised as we believe each and every driver needs to be able to do this without any problems. We want to be sure that when a person walks away with that piece of paper containing their drivers' licence, they can indeed call themselves drivers," Msibi said.

"KwaZulu-Natal may have it introduced by February or March next year shortly after a week-long awareness campaign is carried out. All driving schools will have to comply with the manual by law.

"We are confident that these new rules will help create safer drivers who are able to deal with situations faced on a daily basis," he said.

"The present K53 manual contains just the basic methods of teaching drivers and we want to move away from that," he said.

The Department has also consulted with traffic authorities to get their input on "problem areas" and ways in which additional testing can be incorporated to improve driving standards.

Other provinces like Gauteng and the Western Cape will have the new manuals introduced by the end of the year, according to Msibi.

"We will be reviewing the manuals every two to three years to make sure they keep up to the standards," he said.

Local traffic authorities have praised the department's decision, saying that the number of accidents and fatalities caused by unskilled drivers were "frightening".

Durban Metro Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Thozamile Tyala said they were glad about the implementation of the new manuals.

"We have found that many accidents on our roads could have been avoided if the drivers were skilled and equipped to deal with a situation where they had to avoid an obstacle or a car or taxi that swerves into their lanes.

"There have been incidents where motorists dangerously swerved into oncoming lanes and crashed into other vehicles.

"Currently driving schools concentrate more on the operation of vehicles rather than the traffic laws. When traffic lights go faulty motorists just all want to rush and go forward. However, by following some simple rules, they will then be able to ensure that traffic flows smoothly."

Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesperson Rajen Chinaboo said the standards of driving needed to be improved as this would contribute to safer roads.

"Judging by the numbers of collisions caused by drivers failing to carry out simple techniques like overtaking safely or swerving to avoid a pedestrian, we need to have a more specialised way of teaching drivers.

"The improved manual will definitely assist in creating more order on our roads and hopefully reduce the number of collisions."

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Safety checks for your caravan

It pays to spend a little time getting your caravan ready for the touring season – both in terms of safety and looking after your investment.

Here is a checklist to put you on the right track.

• Tow bar - check the condition and operation of your tow bar – and lubricate if necessary.
• Tyres - check the condition of the caravan’s tyres and replace if damaged, cracked or worn.
• Lights– make sure all rear lights on your caravan are working correctly before setting off.
• Number plate– make sure the number plate on your caravan is intact. Don’t forget to change the number plate if you have bought a new car recently.
• Window seals - replace any rubber window seals that look perished.
• Exterior - clean the caravan body thoroughly with a car shampoo and protect with polish or wax.
• Interior - vacuum carpets, curtains and upholstery. Wipe walls, ceilings, fixtures and fittings with anti-bacterial solution. Leave windows ajar for a few hours on a warm, breezy day to air through. Test to ensure that all kitchen appliances and internal electrics are working correctly.

Tyre Maintenance

Check Your Tyre Inflation
Proper tyre inflation is essential for safe driving and long tyre life. It's wise to check your tyres' air pressure at least once a month with an accurate tyre pressure gauge. Be sure to check pressure while your tyres are cold and have not been used recently. Even driving a mile will cause your tyre pressure to increase and give you an inaccurate reading.
Should you experience continuous loss of inflation pressure, it could be an indication of a possible tyre or wheel assembly problem. Consult your tyre professional immediately if you encounter this situation.

Check Your Tyre Tread
Another way is to look at the tread wear indicator bar that's molded into your tyres. The bars are located at the bottoms of the tread grooves in several locations around the tyre. When a tyre is so worn that these bars become visibly flush with the adjacent tread ribs, it's time to replace the tyre.

It is suggested that you check your tyre tread using either method every 4 800Km.

Know What Certain Wear Patterns Mean
As tyres wear, sometimes wear patterns emerge that can indicate problems with your vehicle or tyres. If you see any of these patterns, have your tyres checked by a professional Goodyear Retailer. Here are some wear patterns to watch for.

Wear on both edges: UNDERINFLATION

Underinflation of a tyre reduces its treadlife by increasing the tread wear on its outside edges, or shoulders. It also generates excessive heat which reduces tyre toughness. Finally, it reduces fuel economy through increased rolling resistance because soft tyres make your vehicle work harder. Abnormal tyre wear may also be caused by misalignment or mechanical problems.

Wear in center: OVERINFLATION

When a tyre is overinflated, the center of the tread bears most of the load and wears out faster than the outside edges. Uneven wear reduces the useful life of a tyre. It could also be the result of misalignment or mechanical problems.

Cups or dips in the tread: WORN PARTS

Cupping (also called dipping) is most common on front tyres, although rear tyres can cup as well. It may be a sign that wheels are out of balance or that suspension or steering system parts are worn out.

Sawtooth edges: MISALIGNMENT

If the edges of your tyre tread take on a sawtooth or feathered appearance, it's because of erratic scrubbing against the road. The solution is an alignment correction.


Tyre Balancing
If your tyres are unbalanced, you'll notice vibration. This can lead to driver fatigue, premature or irregular tyre wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Your tyres should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they are remounted after repair. Check your tyre balance at the first sign of vibration or shimmy.

Vehicle Alignment
Your vehicle is properly aligned when all of its suspension and steering components are working smoothly and when its tyre and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. If you notice uneven tread wear, it could be due to a misalignment and your vehicle should be serviced by a professional.

Tyre Rotation
While many people are knowledgeable enough to rotate their own tyres, the procedure is especially quick and easy for a professional. Your vehicle's owner's manual will specify the proper rotation pattern and schedule for your vehicle. If no specific schedule is indicated, a good rule of thumb is to rotate your tyres every 9 600 to 12 800 Kms.

Tyre Repair
Tyre repairs should be made by a trained tyre professional. Proper repair procedure includes dismounting the tyre from the wheel. This allows for thorough inspection of the tyre for damage, as well as the use of a patch and plug to repair any punctures that fall within the guidelines for repair.

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