Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

XenoBlitz wrote:I both hate and like the regulations...

The part I like is that we "might" be able to get rid of some very senseless (and scary) drivers. I have seen once too many how lack of knowledge/skill and abundance of liquor caused some real hairy situations.

The part I do not like is that the article reads :

Dit vereis dat ’n persoon wat in hierdie gebiede wil ry, ’n basiese kennis van die omgewing en die meganika van sy voertuig moet hê.
Die kwalifikasie vereis opleiding waarop ’n eksamen volg en sal periodiek hernu moet word.

This implies that every time someone goes to a new area (even if they've been there before) they have to do another course and exam. If it is implemented as a quick questionnaire before entering the area, then I'm happy. But if this is going to be one of those: make an appointment two weeks in advance, spend three days doing a course and then a written exam, then not cool. I have no interest in driving down to an area two weeks prior to my trip to sort out licensing, then have to struggle with bad service, all just so I can spend one long weekend camping for instance....

How are they planning to implement this? Anyone have more information?

XenoBlitz wrote:This implies that every time someone goes to a new area (even if they've been there before) they have to do another course and exam. If it is implemented as a quick questionnaire before entering the area, then I'm happy. But if this is going to be one of those: make an appointment two weeks in advance, spend three days doing a course and then a written exam, then not cool. I have no interest in driving down to an area two weeks prior to my trip to sort out licensing, then have to struggle with bad service, all just so I can spend one long weekend camping for instance....

• There are two unit standards that are applicable to off-road driving - Unit Standard 254135 ("Apply the techniques for operating four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles, in on-road and off-road conditions") and Unit Standard 254154 ("Apply advanced techniques for operating four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles in off-road conditions").
• The unit standards have been ratified by the South African Qualifications Agency (SAQA) and can be downloaded from their web site.
• You'll only require the former for your driver's competency certificate (the so-called "DCC"). The latter may be done for your own pleasure, or if you are pursuing a professional driving qualification that requires you to gain additional credits. The latter does not require a practical exam.
• Both of these unit standards state that the last date for their achievement is 2015-11-26. This may be extended, or the unit standard may be replaced with a new one. Nobody knows yet - we've never been down this road before.
• If the unit standard changes, they may require you to renew your DCC. Yet again we do not know, because we've not lived through a change of the standard yet.
• There will only be one DCC, and it will be valid for each & every trail that is ear-marked as "sensitive". If the trail is not marked as "sensitive", you will not need a DCC to drive it.
• We should not be upset with "them" or "they". These unit standards were developed by off-roaders for off-roaders as a means of self-regulating before government deemed it necessary to step in & do their own brand of regulation of a fraternity that was often criticised by outsiders. The guys are looking for assistance to take the process forward - a golden opportunity for anybody to get involved and help the process along from the inside.