New vehicle number plates for South Africa to improve on road safety

The South African Department of Transport is busy on a process to standardize, as well as improve, the security features of the motor vehicle number plate.

In January, the department published in the government gazette the draft Regulation Amendments intending to effect changes to the motor vehicle number plates. Through the notice, the South African public was invited to make objections, inputs and comments as part of the public consultation process.

“As part of the new improvements to our number plates, the regulations will ensure that manufacturers are regulated to ensure that we can account for every motor vehicle number plate that is issued through coding,” the department said.

The Department, through MinMec is currently considering various options, including the use of the national flag as well as the Provincial Coat of Arms, to improve on road safety.

MinMec for transport comprises the minister and deputy minister of transport, the members of provincial executive councils (MECs) responsible for transport and other key officials.

“The operability of the current South African number plate is prone to abuse by unregistered number plate manufacturers. Equally, the system in its current form is also taken advantage of by criminals who clone vehicles and commit other forms of crime,” the department said.

MinMec is considering inputs informed by the public consultation process as well as research and expert submissions to the department.

At the end of the departmental consultation process, the matter will be presented to Cabinet.

“The security features of the number plates are also part of the broad road safety strategy, which will ensure that we have the right vehicles on our roads, which to a larger extent contribute to the road fatalities and carnages on our roads,” the department said.

The department’s internal discussions and consultation process on the matter are ongoing.

Source: BusinessTech