LET’S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

Boland College (BC) has decided to let its campuses get down to business…

Compact, economical, stylish and hard working – what more could you wish for in a business partner? Comfort, versatility and a host of safety features: Nissan NV200 has it all!

Nissan introduced its first compact panel van segment to South Africa in June 2013. It is considered the solution for business owners “who have been making do with larger, more costly vans and pickups”, says Joe Castelli, vice-president: Nissan Commercial Vehicles.

It may prove a wee bit of a challenge for some of our drivers as there is no vision through the sides and rear, and no rear mirror, but BC has very competent drivers.

The intelligent design of the van provides a cargo area that’s surprisingly spacious. Rear doors are split 40/60 – both rear doors can open 90–180 degrees. Easy access to the load area is ensured by sliding doors on either side of the vehicle. The cockpit is designed for commercial drivers, with the passenger seat that can fold forward to be used as a desk or enable loading of longer items like ladders. The driver seat sits high to enable 100% vision.

The NV200 uses electric power-assisted steering assisted by standard equipment including remote central locking with an immobiliser, driver and passenger airbags, an antilock braking system(ABS) with electronic brake force distribution, vehicle dynamic control, air-conditioning, a full metal-mesh partition, as well as tilt-adjustable steering. ]

The Nissan NV200 1.5 dCi Visia offers excellent fuel efficiency of 5.1 l/100km.

AARTO compliance is, after all, an integral part of Risk Management. A major traffic law amendment such as AARTO creates significant challenges for the fleet environment. This includes a potentially negative impact, with serious consequences for company transport as a whole. The implications are indeed alarming to the uninformed.

Staff members need to be adequately prepared for the impending points demerit system. Demerit points accumulated by staff (in private capacity as well as during working hours) need to be limited.

Under the AARTO system, drivers earn demerit points when they commit traffic infringements. This will be reflected on the National Contravention Register on eNATIS. After 12 demerits a driver’s license will be suspended. A third suspension of a driver’s license will result in the permanent revocation of all classes of the license. In addition, there will be the result of difficulties in terms of drivers who have had their license revoked yet need to drive in order to satisfy their employment responsibilities.

This could have a major impact on corporate vehicle policies and practices. Employers need to consider the impact of the legislation on labour contracts, as well as company policies in this regard.

If a driver breaches a first infringement notice, it continues to a “courtesy letter,” and on to an “enforcement order”, whereby, in 60 days, the Sheriff of the Court is authorised to deface the license discs and operator cards of the entire fleet. However, in order to reward good driving, a point will be reduced every three months if no infringement occurs within the period.

AARTO education will increase driver awareness and responsibility and reduce bad driving practices. Additionally improved driver awareness could have significant benefits for the company in terms of reduced fuel and maintenance costs.