• These checks require the assistance of a person to operate the vehicle controls.

• Use chocks to prevent accidental movement of the vehicle.

• Observe manufacturer's shut-down instructions before switching off the engine (e.g. to avoid turbo-charger damage).

Checks and reasons for rejection

• Start the engine and charge up the braking system until the low pressure warning device turns off. Apply the brake several times until the low pressure warning device activates.

• A visual or audible warning device connected to the brake system does not provide a warning to the driver when the air pressure is lowered to less than the following levels, unless the manufacturer specifies a different level:

• 420 kPa (60psi) for ADR 35 vehicles
  
• 350 kPa (50psi) for pre-ADR 35 vehicles

Roads

The total length of roads in KwaZulu-Natal is 25,600 km. This includes 1,147 km of the road network in the eThekwini Metro area and 1,138 km of national routes. 6,656 km are surfaced and 18,943 km are gravel.

The main national routes are the N3 (Durban to Gauteng), N2 South (Durban to Kokstad) and the N2 North (Durban to Pongola). The N3 to Gauteng is the busiest road freight corridor in South Africa, carrying a volume of over 1.5 million vehicles per year on the Durban to Pietermaritzburg section. The authorities charged with the maintenance of provincial roads face the continual challenge of maintaining the condition of roads with limited funds, in spite of increasing usage.

The combined effect of national policies of deregulation of road transport, commercialisation of rail, increased legal axle-mass loads and gross combination mass of heavy vehicles has resulted in a continual shift of cargo from rail to road transport. This results in an increase in road damage, accidents, congestion and gas emissions.
The situation is aggravated by endemic overloading of heavy vehicles which, though better controlled in KZN than the rest of the country, has negative consequences for the life of the roads in the province.

The cumulative effects of increasing road usage and accumulated deficits in the funding of road maintenance are felt by all road users in terms of increased vehicle operating costs. The deteriorating condition of roads in KwaZulu-Natal is a cause for grave concern as it contributes to rising costs, inflation and increasing accident rates. It is noteworthy that the Department has in recent years, placed considerable emphasis on the development of roads in remote rural areas and is in the process of upgrading several major provincial roads such as the P700 route to Ulundi and the P496 John Ross Highway from Empangeni to Richards Bay .

It will in the near future be critically necessary to reassess the provision of road infrastructure between the N3 corridor and the Port of Durban as increasing congestion and delays are having a negative impact on the efficiency of the logistics system surrounding the port.

Advanced Lubricant Technology

Low Friction Engine & Drive Train Lubricants commonly known as synthetic engine oil and synthetic transmission & drive train lubricants, these synthetic products can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 3% by reducing friction between parts. Synthetic lubricants are designed to withstand the extreme pressures of the engine, transmission and drive train better than traditional oils. In addition to increased fuel efficiency, synthetic engine lubricants reduce wear and increase maintenance intervals.

Check exhaust system

• component of the exhaust system is not securely mounted;

• The exhaust system contacts any unrelated part of the vehicle;

• Exhaust pipe outlet is not rearward of all rear passenger doors or sleeper compartment;

• There is any leak in the exhaust system (excluding manufacturers’ drain holes in the mufflers);

• catalytic converter is missing, bypassed or has a missing heat shield.

Check headlight aim using a headlight tester

• the aim of the headlight is adjusted such that, when on high beam and measured at an effective distance of 8m, the projected centre of the beam is to the right of the headlight centre and/or is above the headlight centre;

• when measured at an effective distance of 8m, any part of the top edge of the high intensity portion of the low beam pattern is above and to the right of the centreline of the headlight;

• the headlight high beam indicator light is not operating

Check electrical equipment

1. Electrical wiring or connectors are corroded, damaged, bare live wires (except earth wire) or hanging loose in a way that could allow it to be damaged;
2. Electrical wiring is located where it can:
   
• become exposed to excessive heat;
• come into contact with moving parts;
• come near a fuel system to cause a fire hazard.

1. Batteries are not securely mounted, leak or are situated in an occupant space.

Check tyres

1. wear indicators are built into most tyres to indicate when tread depth reaches about 1.5mm. The depth of the tyre tread above these indicators is not included in the assessment of tread depth around the circumference of a tyre.
2. In effect, these requirements allow a tyre to be worn to less than 1.5mm tread depth on its edges, provided that at least 75% of the remaining width of the tyre has a minimum tread depth of 1.5mm around the whole circumference.
3. The overall diameter of dual tyres on the same side of an axle is not matched within 25 mm;
4. A tyre (including sidewalls) has deep cuts, chunking, bumps, bulges, exposed cords or other signs of carcass failure;
5. A tyre has been regrooved (except where indicated on the side wall that the tyres are suitable for regrooving);
6. When in the straight ahead position, the wheels and tyres and fittings (wheel nuts, grease caps etc) of any vehicle project beyond the extreme width of the mudguards or exceed the maximum width of a vehicle;
7. Any tyre is not of a type constructed for unrestricted road use;
8. Any retreaded or remoulded tyre is not marked with the words "RETREAD" or "REMOULD", and where speed limited the words "MAX. SPEED XX KM/H" or "SPEED LIMITED TO XX KM/H". (XX means the max speed i.e. 125km/h);
9. A tyre fitted to a vehicle with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes is not suitable for road use at: