How to report a bad driver in South Africa
A driver cut you off, jumped a red robot or nearly put you into the barrier, and you want it reported properly. Here is the short version first, then the detail.
Last checked: 27 Oct 2026
The short answer
Stay safe first
Do not film, type or hold your phone while you are driving. Wait until you have pulled over or arrived.
Note the number plate, place and time
The number plate matters most. Add the road or town, roughly what time it was and what the driver did.
Report it on Padvark
Add your photo or video if you have one. A moderator checks every report before it is published.
Report it to the RTMC yourself
Padvark does not send your report to anyone. Your Padvark report has a one-tap WhatsApp button that opens the RTMC chat with the message already written, or you can phone the NTCC.
In an emergency, call for help
If someone is in danger right now, pull over somewhere safe or ask a passenger to call 10111 (police) or 112 from a cell phone.
If someone is in danger right now, call 10111 (police) or 112 from a cell phone.
What you need
A good report is short and specific. Try to get the number plate (a photo of it is best), the place (the road name, the nearest intersection or the town), the date and time, and one or two sentences on what the driver did. If you already have a plate, you can check it here to see whether it has been reported before.
A photo or short video makes a report stronger, but it is not compulsory. If you are not sure which type of bad driving it was, look through the list of offences and pick the closest match.
Where to report
Padvark is a community site. We do not send reports to the police or the RTMC. You report to the RTMC yourself, and Padvark makes that easier with a button that opens WhatsApp with your report already written.
| Channel | What it is | How |
|---|---|---|
| Padvark | A community site with public, moderated reports of bad driving. | Tap Report a Padvark, fill in the details and add your photo or video. |
| RTMC on WhatsApp | The WhatsApp line of the Road Traffic Management Corporation. | 083 293 7989. The easiest way is the button on your Padvark report, which opens it with your message ready. |
| NTCC | The National Traffic Call Centre, by phone. | 0861 762 847 (08617NaTIS) |
| Emergency | Police and emergency services, for danger right now. | 10111 (police), or 112 from a cell phone. |
What happens next
We cannot promise any outcome, and not every report ends in a fine. What the RTMC does with a report is explained on How it works, so we do not repeat it here.
Can I report without a dashcam?
Yes. A dashcam helps, but the number plate, the place, the time and a clear description are what matter most. If you have a passenger, ask them to take a photo of the plate. If you are alone, wait until you are safely stopped. Our guide to dashcam footage covers what to record if you do have one.
Is it legal to post a number plate?
Padvark publishes reports about how a vehicle was driven on a public road, and a number plate is part of that. We never show who owns a vehicle, and our Content rules set out what may and may not be posted, for example that faces must not be shown.
If a report about you or your vehicle is wrong or unfair, you can ask for it to be removed. We cannot give legal advice.
Common questions
- Can I report a bad driver without the number plate?
- You can, but the number plate is the most useful detail, so try to get it. If you could not, give everything else you remember: the make and colour of the vehicle, the place and the time.
- Do I need to report to both Padvark and the RTMC?
- They do different jobs. Padvark publishes moderated reports so others can see them. The RTMC is the authority, and you contact it yourself if you want it to act. Doing both is best.
- Will the driver get a fine?
- We cannot say. Padvark does not issue fines, and not every report to the RTMC leads to one. What the RTMC does with a report is explained under What happens after an RTMC report on the How it works page.
- What if someone is in danger right now?
- Call 10111 (police) or 112 from a cell phone first. Report to Padvark and the RTMC afterwards, once everyone is safe.
- Can I report a taxi, a truck or a drunk driver?
- Yes. The steps are the same, with a few extra things to note. We have separate guides for taxi drivers, drunk drivers, dashcam footage and truck drivers.
Ready to report?
It takes a few minutes. Add the number plate, the place and the time, plus a photo or video if you have one.
Guides for specific situations
- Taxi driversA taxi stopping in the road, cutting across lanes or ignoring a red robot.
- Drunk driversA driver who may be drunk: call for help first, never follow or confront.
- Dashcam footageWhat to record, how to save the clip and what it can and cannot do.
- Truck driversTrucks have two plates and blind spots. What to note and where to report.
