THERE are several traffic offences for which you can be arrested, including exceeding the speed limit.
The speed limit on a road in South Africa is normally specified by a sign alongside that road. If no sign is present, then the general speed limits are:
60km/h on every public road in an urban area.
100km/h on every public road situated outside an urban area, excluding a freeway.
120km/h on every freeway.
A grace of 10km/h of the posted speed limit may be applied by law enforcement before they would consider issuing a ticket for speeding. However, this does not mean that the speed limit is 10km/h faster than the posted speed.
Fixed speed cameras on any road, including the freeway, are set to go off when you drive 11km/h or more over the speed limit.
Drivers will be arrested and criminally charged for speeding if they:
Exceed the speed limit by more than 30km/h on a public road within an urban area.
Exceed the speed limit by more than 40km/h outside an urban area or on a freeway.
Upon conviction, the person’s driving licence must be suspended for a minimum period of six months upon first conviction, five years upon second conviction and 10 years upon third and subsequent convictions.
