PUNDA-MARIA – The Kruger National Park has imposed a strict law against stubborn motorists, who frequently break traffic rules in the park.

The public relations officer, Mr William Mabasa, said the KNP is backing its traffic officials and rangers fully when it comes to issuing fines for not abiding by the rules and regulations.

He was reacting to an article in a daily newspaper, in which it was reported a man was fined because his daughter was hanging out of the vehicle.

According to the National Parks Act, a person may not “alight from vehicle or protrude through an open window, open door or open roof.” The admissible fine for such action is R500.

Dr Freek Venter, the KNP’s Head of Conservation Services, explains why a person hanging out of a vehicle is a dangerous situation and can easily result in that person’s being attacked. “If the driver has to accelerate away because of a charging elephant, that person can also be thrown from the vehicle and, if the vehicle is moving, there is nothing to stop the person being thrown out if the driver has to suddenly stop the vehicle,” he said.

Dr Venter also said that, because the animals in the KNP are not used to humans, they get frightened when they see people out of their cars and run away, which is also disconcerting for other visitors.

“It must be remembered that government legislation forces us to enforce the regulations of the KNP as more than a million people visit the park every year and it is for their own safety,” he said.

The rules and regulations of the KNP are clearly stated on brown boards as one enters the park and at most main camp entrances. They are also printed on entrance permits.

“As on other occasions, we respectfully request all our visitors to adhere to the rules and regulations, not only because of the possibility that they could receive fines if they are caught, but also for their own safety,” Mabasa concludes.