A car with a built-in DVD system can`t be impounded, say KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) traffic authorities. However, the system should be installed in the driver`s seat headrest, for safety reasons.
This follows a recent article in a Durban newspaper, stating that motorists face a risk of having their cars impounded if they have in-car DVD systems.
"There is no law that says a motorist with a built-in DVD system could have his or her car impounded, but should the driver be involved in an accident due to the result of watching a DVD screen while driving, he can be charged with reckless driving in a court of law," says John Schnell, head of KZN Road Traffic Inspection.
"Drivers who have DVD systems installed at the rear seat of the vehicle should always remember they can be easily distracted, thus the driver needs to exercise control of a moving car at all times," says Schnell.
"Motorists who drive especially in the city centre have to make constant calculations, as well as make sensible decisions that will help avoid causing silly accidents, that could place others other than the driver in danger."
Mark Axon, sales and marketing director of Pretoria-based Tier One Electronics, agrees with Schnell, saying the Durban newspaper article is "contradictory and creates an unwarranted scare".
"Firstly, there are no laws in force that will allow for this action, like in the case of driving while talking on a cellular phone. The article said 'offenders` stand the risk of having their cars impounded, but we disagree, as the newspaper spreads a misconception in the minds of the public," says Axon.
"Indeed, while the press article claims that motorists are being distracted by watching movies while driving, in-car DVDs are, by a vast majority, roof-mounted on the driver passenger seat headrests, for rear-seat entertainment."
Schnell says motorists who talk on their cellphones while driving can get a fine of up to R500 if caught. Clearly, both watching DVDs and talking on a cellphone while driving could pose a risk and make a driver liable for a fine.
Axon concludes: "By entertaining fellow passengers, especially children, this type of in-car entertainment actually cuts down on distractions for drivers, as statistics will show that a great deal of distractions while driving come from children."
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