JOHANNESBURG - After years of campaigning for reform, the Automobile Association (AA) welcomes tougher vehicle safety rules set to be enforced in South Africa’s vehicle sector.
The proposed rules include stronger requirements for airbags, side-impact protection and electronic stability control.
While the AA welcomes the proposal, it is calling for the requirements to be extended to all derivatives and models.
“This is an important step for vehicle safety because the biggest challenge we have is that motor vehicle manufacturers use legislation as a clutch,” says CEO Bobby Ramagwede.
He says the “clutch” allows manufacturers to avoid implementing safer standards in entry-level vehicles. By June next year, all passenger vehicles are expected to meet the required safety standards.
Ramagwede says the AA hopes the changes will help reduce unnecessary incidents, injuries and deaths on South Africa’s roads.
READ: AA raises alarm over lax vehicle safety standard in SA
“There isn’t a direct correlation between recalls and the safety standards, but from a safety standards perspective, this is a quantum leap,” he says.
He says the changes will give South Africa an opportunity to compare its vehicle safety standards with those of its European and Australian counterparts.