RTMC urges motorists to use year-end bonuses to fix vehicles and renew licences

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has advised motorists to use year-end bonuses and stokvel payouts to repair their vehicles and renew licence discs ahead of the festive season travel period.

With thousands of South Africans preparing for long-distance trips, the RTMC said motorists should prioritise fixing defects that may have been overlooked during the year.

These include worn tyres, cracked windscreens, faulty brakes, broken lights and damaged wipers all of which are considered safety-critical components, particularly during expected rainy conditions.

According to the RTMC, vehicle-related factors contributed 6.9% of fatal crashes recorded during the previous festive season. Of these, 65.7% were due to tyre bursts, 11.4% to faulty brakes, and 9.5% involved headlights that were not switched on.

“Motorists should take advantage of any end-of-year bonuses or savings payouts to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and licences up to date before embarking on holiday travel,” said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane.

Zwane said vehicle safety and compliance with licensing regulations are critical to preventing accidents and avoiding fines this festive season.

The agency further reminded motorists to ensure their vehicle licences remain valid during the holiday period. More than 1 060 000 licence discs are set to expire at the end of November.

According to the agency, Gauteng accounts for the highest number, with 416 828 renewals due before month-end, followed by the Western Cape with 197 797, and KwaZulu-Natal with 143 293.

Other provinces’ renewal figures include:

Mpumalanga – 66 446

Eastern Cape – 63 263

Limpopo – 58 551

Free State – 47 572

North West – 44 871

Northern Cape – 21 763

The RTMC warned that driving with an expired licence disc could result in penalties, including late renewal fines of 10% per month, spot fines of up to R1 000, and possible impoundment.