Towing Your Horse Box

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY

In their quest to reduce fatalities on the road, the Road Traffic Inspectorate is starting to enforce Regulation 151 of the Road Traffic Act 93 or 1996, pertaining to brake systems and trailers.

Regulation 151 stipulates the following:-

  1. Subject to the provisions of Sub Reg. 4 no person shall operate on a public road a trailer, if:
    1. The G.V.M (gross vehicle mass) of such a trailer does not exceed 750 kg and the G.V.M:
      1. does not exceed half the Tare weight of the Towing Vehicle, unless such a trailer is equipped with a Parking Brake or other devise to keep such Trailer stationary (no braking system is required for the trailer other than a Park Brake or another device to keep it stationary whilst parking off).
      2. Exceeds half the Tare Weight of the Drawing Vehicle, but does not exceed such Tare, unless such Trailer is equipped with a Parking brake and either a Service Brake or an Overrun Brake (if the G.V.M. of the Trailer exceeds 750kg but the G.V.M. does not exceed the Tare weight of the Drawing Vehicle, a Park Brake and either a Service Brake or an Overrun Brake can be fitted to the Trailer).
      3. Exceeds the Tare Weight if the Drawing Vehicle, unless such Trailer is fitted with a Parking Brake and a Service Brake.





    2. Where the G.V.M. of the Trailer exceeds 750 kgs but does not exceed 3500kg and the G.V.M:
      1. does not exceed the Tare of the Drawing Vehicle unless such Trailer is equipped with a Parking Brake and either an Overrun Brake or a Service Brake
      2. Exceeds the Tare of the Drawing vehicle, unless the Trailer is equipped with a Parking Brake and a Service Brake

At present there are two Service Brake Systems available in South Africa, Vacuum and Electric. Vacuum Brakes have been available to the Public for numerous years and there was basically no alternative available to the Public.

Although the Electric Braking System has only recently been introduced to the country, it has been available in the U.S.A. for more than 30 years and is definitely the preferred system in most of the States. Australia and New Zealand are also making extensive use of this system, and have done so for at least 10-15 years.

Article kindly supplied by Electro Brake