Calls for daytime lights on road

2008-11-17 21:06

Pretoria - The Automobile Association of SA on Monday called on government to implement the compulsory use of daytime lights for both minibus taxis and heavy vehicles.

"The visibility benefits of daytime running lights to road safety are well-proven worldwide, but South Africa has additional problems with truck roadworthiness," said Rob Handfield-Jones of the AA in a statement.

"If we could get all heavy vehicles to drive with their lights on, it would be of great assistance to the traffic authorities in identifying unroadworthy vehicles," he said.

He said the AA had submitted a proposed regulatory amendment to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and the Department of Transport in 2006.

"We have not had a response to these submissions," Handfield-Jones said, adding that the AA was concerned about the carnage caused on roads by heavy vehicles.

The AA said heavy vehicle unroadworthiness was a "critical threat" to all road users.

"We call on government to adopt daytime running lights for these vehicles as soon as possible," said Handfield-Jones.

The department of transport was not immediately available for comment.

- SAPA